Cancer: MACA, NSIA-LUTH Collaborate On Advocacy, Improved Care For Patients

A non-governmental organisation that champions the fight against cancer in Africa, Move Against Cancer Africa (MACA), has expressed readiness to collaborate with NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC) in Lagos, on advocacy and improved care for cancer patients.

An official of MACA, Caleb Egwuenu, stated this when he led some members of the organisation on a courtesy visit to the NLCC on Tuesday in Lagos.

The MACA team was received by the Centre Director, Dr. Lilian Ekpo, and was given a tour of the facility by other officials who guided them through the various units of the Centre.

According to Egwuenu, the visit was part of efforts by MACA to seek common front with relevant stakeholders across the continents in the collective fight against cancer, adding that “It is believed that the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre (NLCC) stands as the region’s largest and most advanced facility for cancer treatment.”

“Our Mission in MACA is to help create an Africa where cancer will no longer be a dead sentence or dreaded, and we seek to achieve this through our well-crafted people focused programmes in the area of advocacy, awareness, screening for early detection, prevention, patient support, awareness, research and treatment.

“Therefore, our discussion here is on potential areas of collaboration and the exchange of knowledge and resources to further advance cancer research and improve outcomes for patients in the region.”

Egwuenu lauded the management of the Centre for having arrays of state-of-the-art facilities and a team of highly skilled and experienced oncologists dedicated to providing exceptional care for patients.

He added that, “there is no doubt that the Center prioritises offering patients optimal treatment options and supporting them in achieving favourable outcomes.”

In her welcome remarks, the entre Director, Dr Lillian Ekpo, commended the MACA team for the visit and expressed willingness for collaborations as she explained the procedures and operations of the centre, including offers of palliative care services for patients and the provisions support for individuals who may face challenges in affording the full cost of treatment.

Among other issues, both parties highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing among various stakeholders to advance cancer research and improve care for patients in Africa.

They pledged their commitment in combating global lung cancer trends, including their association with the International Association on the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).

They also harped on the need to identify with a regional conference on Lung Cancer and related oncology, scheduled to take place in Ghana in 2025, as they explored plans to involve numerous local centers and organisations engaged in cancer patient advocacy, as well as oncologists and consultants from across Africa.

MACA is a volunteer-based organisation that champions campaign and education on cancer related issues, including risks, treatment, survivorship, palliative care, and most especially prevention.

It collaborates with relevant agencies and health organisations across Africa and beyond towards ensuring that people affected by cancer are empowered by information, reinforced by action and sustained by community.