Experts in the healthcare sector in Nigeria have called for more actions to change the deplorable health challenge posed by the incidence of cancer to Nigerians.
Under the theme “We can, I can,” World Cancer Day 2018 explores how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer on individuals, families and communities.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are about 24.6 million people living with cancer worldwide, while about 12.5 percent of all death is attributable to cancer.
It further estimates that over 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer yearly, while about 80,000 die from the disease. This brings the consequences of the cancer epidemic to 240 Nigerians every day or 10 Nigerians every hour, dying from cancer. It noted that the country’s cancer death ratio of 4 in 5 affected persons was one of the worst in the world.
“We have to be in this together, as we do not know where the cures are going to come from. The looming global epidemic of cancer means that all of us in oncology have to come together to make sure anyone and everyone has a chance to survive cancer,” Olufunmilayo Olopade, haematology oncologist at the University of Chicago, United States, said.
“Nigerian professionals should aim to be part of the voice of global oncology, to attract, review, participate in oncology studies and publish work relating not only to differences in cancer biology resulting from risk factors, pathogenesis, and pharmacology, but also disparities arising from social, cultural, economic, and political resource-constraining issues, bench marking the findings on resource-stratified guidelines,” Olopade said.
Analysts in the healthcare industry also said the steady rise in cancer cases in the population of Nigerian’s was an indication of inadequate or ineffective control measures to curtail the disease.
“For universal health coverage of Nigerians, there is an urgent need for the government to include cancer treatment under the NHIS operation, with that more people will be able to afford the treatment and also go for screening,” an analyst said.
The analyst added that government needs to encourage activities through non-governmental agency to promote advocacy, national policy on training of personnel for clinical and self-breast examination, and nationwide screening program (mammography) in order to enhance early detection, control the upward trends and reduce the mortality rate of cancer.
Ifeoma Okoye, radiologist at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) and founder of Breast Without Spot, said there were over 200 different types of cancer, able to form in any part of the body from head to toe, each with a specific name, treatment and chance of being cured.
“The major drivers for the high morbidity are fear, reluctance to accept fee for screening and the unaffordable medical bills associated with late presentation,” Okoye said.
Okoye stated that the Fear that fuels the wrong perception, can only be buried if we can change the narrative through; improving early detection, increasing opportunities for free screening, and assisting indigent patients to cope with their medical bills. These interventions will improve survival statistics.
“We urge the public to be cancer aware. Know the causes and risk factors so that appropriate precautions can be taken to modify or avoid them. In addition to prevent and reduce the risk of cancer, individuals should refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol, be physically active, and have a balanced diet,” she said.
Anthonia Obokoh
