As incidence of cancer remain worrisome and alarming in Nigeria, stakeholders have called for collaborative efforts to close the present huge cancer care gap.
Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body.
According to experts, cancer in Nigeria and other parts of Africa is characterised by late stage at presentation, delayed diagnosis, limited access to treatment, and poor outcomes relative to other geographic regions.
In the same vein, the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS), said there is a huge cancer care gap in the areas of access, cancer registration, low budgetary provision to health and cancer research amongst others in the country.
President of the society, Dr. Adamu Umar, said it is expedient for all hands to be on deck towards addressing these gaps as the country targets to achieve universal health coverage for all its citizens.
He, however, applauded the federal government for the creation of the Cancer Health Fund ( CHF), CAP program, inclusion of cancer treatment in the national health insurance Authority (NHIA), installation of modern radiotherapy machines in some teaching hospitals among others.
Also, the chairman, senate committee on health, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, has said that the cancer health fund is poorly utilised by the Federal Ministry of Health.
He said involvement of private sector is key to achieving maximum benefit, adding that if cancer is placed under health insurance, many patients will have access to treatment.
“That fund is not implemented because the private sector is not involved. Private sector involvement will enable more beneficiaries to benefit ,“ he said.
Meanwhile, the minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed that the federal government has earmarked money for another six cancer treatment centres that are being developed right now by the ministry of health.
The development, the minister said is aimed at increasing the availability and also the space to be able to accommodate more patients.
He noted that cancer treatment is very costly, saying „There is a government program, the cancer care fund which reduces the burden by 50 percent. Even with the 50 percent, it is still too much for many people.“
The minister disclosed this at a press briefing and virtual commissioning of Brachytherapy Machines in five Federal Teaching Hospitals across the country in commemoration of 2023 World Cancer Day, themed: „Closing the Cancer Care Gap“ in Abuja,
He said the Federal Ministry Health has achieved several ‘FIRSTs’ in improving access to quality and affordable cancer services nationwide, adding that the ministry in collaboration with partners, introduced the Cancer Access Partnership (CAP) Programs, to provide quality anticancer medicines to patients at 50 percent of market pricess.
“The CAP program currently operates in 16 tertiary hospitals, but I have now approved inclusion of all tertiary hospitals across the country. Further more, I approved inclusion of diagnostic services, such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the CAP Program for optimal cancer management.
“It is still in the spirit of ‘Closing the Care gap’ that the Federal Government established the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) for comprehensive treatment of cancers of the breast, cervix and prostate to indigent patients, at no cost, in all six geopolitical zones.
“The CHF is driven by donors and contributions: I therefore call on all and sundry to donate generously, to enable us increase beneficiaries and expand coverage, with regard to other cancer types, especially childhood cancers,“ Ehanire said.
“CHF is another first and a legacy project in Nigeria’s history, with over 431 patients currently benefiting from the Fund. Federal government has sustained the budget line for four years, a demonstration of rare commitment to close the cancer care gap between rich and poor in our society. Plans are under way to add at least six more cancer treatment centers to the inventory and ensure wider reach of the Fund.
„Steps are also being taken to improve cancer services to children, working with development partners for access to comprehensive treatment for childhood cancers which require particular attention.
„The Federal Ministry of Health is collaborating with the global community, also to give priority attention to cervical Cancer, second most common cancer in Nigeria, with effort to eliminate cancer of the cervix by the year 2030 in line with the WHO target. To this end, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is being introduced into the National Program on Immunization, as we scale up secondary cancer prevention interventions being funded by UNitaid, through the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). The program started in Lagos, Rivers and Kaduna States and now scaled up to involve Niger, Kebbi, Ondo and Ekiti States.
„The Federal Ministry of Health under my watch has continued to improve access to cancer care services especially in diagnosis, chemotherapy and Radiotherapy services. We are currently adding radiotherapy services to some hospitals in the country with installation, training and functional brachytherapy machines in National Hospital Abuja, UNTH Enugu, UBTH Benin, UCH Ibadan and ABUTH Zaria and UDUTH Sokoto,“ he explained.nticancerH Ibadan and ABUTH Zaria and UDUTH Sokoto,“ he explained.nticancer medicines to patients at 50 percent of market pricess,“ he said.
Ehanire explained that the CAP program currently operates in 16 tertiary hospitals, but that he has approved inclusion of all tertiary hospitals across the country.
He further stated that inclusion of diagnostic services, such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the CAP Program for optimal cancer management has also been approved.
„It is still in the spirit of ‘Closing the Care gap’ that the Federal Government established the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) for comprehensive treatment of cancers of the breast, cervix and prostate to indigent patients, at no cost, in all six geopolitical zones.
„The CHF is driven by donors and contributions: I therefore call on all and sundry to donate generously, to enable us increase beneficiaries and expand coverage, with regard to other cancer types, especially childhood cancers,“ Ehanire said.
„CHF is another first and a legacy project in Nigeria’s history, with over 431 patients currently benefiting from the Fund. Federal government has sustained the budget line for four years, a demonstration of rare commitment to close the cancer care gap between rich and poor in our society. Plans are under way to add at least six more cancer treatment centers to the inventory and ensure wider reach of the Fund.
„Steps are also being taken to improve cancer services to children, working with development partners for access to comprehensive treatment for childhood cancers which require particular attention.
„The Federal Ministry of Health is collaborating with the global community, also to give priority attention to cervical Cancer, second most common cancer in Nigeria, with effort to eliminate cancer of the cervix by the year 2030 in line with the WHO target. To this end, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is being introduced into the National Program on Immunization, as we scale up secondary cancer prevention interventions being funded by UNitaid, through the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI). The program started in Lagos, Rivers and Kaduna States and now scaled up to involve Niger, Kebbi, Ondo and Ekiti States.
„The Federal Ministry of Health under my watch has continued to improve access to cancer care services especially in diagnosis, chemotherapy and Radiotherapy services. We are currently adding radiotherapy services to some hospitals in the country with installation, training and functional brachytherapy machines in National Hospital Abuja, UNTH Enugu, UBTH Benin, UCH Ibadan and ABUTH Zaria and UDUTH Sokoto,“ he explained.
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