Nigeria: Medical experts urge F.G to set up national screening scheme for cancer diseases

As part of effort to address the rising cases of the disease in the country, medical experts have urged the Federal Government to come up with a national screening scheme for cancer.
A General practitioner, who is Head of Strategy, Development and Outreach at Lakeshore Cancer Centre in Lagos, Oge Ilegbune, while lamenting over the prevalent of cancer in Nigeria at an awareness campaign organized by the company has urged government and individuals to find sustainable solutions that would prioritize prevention of the dieses. Expectations are that the screening will lead to early detention and help the country to come down hard on widespread of cancer in the country thereby, reducing yearly loss to the life threatening disease. Ilegbune, who believed that more than 80, 000 people died yearly than as estimated by World Health Organization, insisted that awareness on cancer is low in the country. “We don’t have a cancer registry in this country. The infrastructure is not there. We don’t have a national screening programme. Only few private organizations are concerned about these. We need government involvement. In the Western countries, governments are actively involved in screening people for Cancer; we need that in the country, She has added that training in medical related institutions in the country must be overhauled to make experts sensitive to cancer issues. Ilegbune has said that cultural barrier remained a serious challenge in the fight against cancer, adding, “Convincing people to come for screening rather than wait until cancer spreads is a big challenge, saying that the event, organized in collaboration with Pathcare Laboratories and Dannis Ashley Wellness Centre was to mark the World Cancer day, test people for the diseases as measure of prevention and help to plant in the mind of people the reasons they must seek early detection of cancer. Resident Physician at Dennis Ashley Wellness centre, Nkeonye Izuka has said that poor exercise adds to growing cases of cancer. Izuka has said that obesity has been linked to colon, kidney, gallbladder, liver, stomach, breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers, with the last three diseases commonly in post menopausal. “Just like we have national immunization programme, we also need national programme on cancer. Ideally, like we have in other countries, Nigeria needs to set a national screening programme, Izuka has said that corroborating Ilegbune’s point. Lakeshore’s Business Manager and Research Coordinator, Bindiya Chugani bemoaned growing cases of cancer among children in Nigeria, stressing that it is uncalled-for.