Cancer: Research Institute, NPHCDA To Conduct National Indicator, Impact Survey

The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), has sought the collaboration of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) as it plans to conduct the National Indicator and impact survey.

The indicator and impact survey is aimed at providing the country with accurate cancer prevalence, economic impact and resource gaps.

The director-general of NICRAT Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, who stated this when he visited the executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, in his office in Abuja, noted that the country currently does not have accurate data for cancer burden in the country. 

In a statement signed by the NICRAT’s head, media/publicity, Hassan Zaggi, the DG also sought to leverage on the already existing massive structure of the NPHCDA to integrate the activities of cancer prevention at the PHC level as well as designing and launching a national cervical cancer screening programme as a follow up to the HPV vaccine programme that has been rolled out.

“We also want you to support the inclusion of cancers as part of the integrated disease surveillance system of the country.  We can see the possibility of integrating cancer as disease surveillance in the system that is already existing,” Prof Malami said.

While commending the NPHCDA ED for the recent launch of the HPV vaccination campaign, the NICRAT DG disclosed that two months ago, his Institute launched three important documents for the country in the area of cancer research.

On his part, the ED, NPHCDA, Dr. Muyi Aina, commended the NICRAT DG for the initiative, noting that there are a lot of opportunities for collaboration between the two agencies.