Cancer: U.S To Support Nigeria's Treatment Efforts

The United States Mission in Nigeria is training 44 Nigerian clinical oncologists as part of efforts to improve the country’s cancer treatment efforts.

The training which is a collaboration with Project PINK BLUE is designed to upgrade oncology initiative with focus on strengthening oncology education, medical and cancer treatment in Nigeria.

Cancer is increasingly recognized as a critical health challenge in Nigeria, with more people dying of the disease, which has been blamed in late detection and treatment.

There are about 50 oncologists in the country where the incidence of cancer is 103,000 and over 100,000 death annually.

Speaking at the opening of the training programme in Abuja on Tuesday, the Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE, Runcie Chidebe, noted that the training programme was a response to an appeal made by the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, during the launch of the country’s five year cancer plan.

He said: “We need to understand that cancer is a complex disease and for you to really treat cancer and treat cancer appropriately, there is a need for professionals treating this ailment to have the right skills.

“A family physician can only see the symptoms of cancer but not have the capacity to treat it. So what we are doing today is that we selected clinical oncologist and radiation oncologist and doctors who treat cancer to interact and update their knowledge to what is happening globally.”