Succour will soon come the way of millions of Nigerians suffering from cancer as the House of Representatives called for immediate provision of radiography machines in all Federal Health institutions across the country.
A World Health Organisation (WHO) report categorised Nigeria as having the highest cancer death rates in Africa in which a conservative number of 10,000 related deaths are recorded annually while about 250,000 new cases are recorded yearly and breast and cervical cancer are the commonest.
The lawmakers also urged Federal Government to take steps towards encouraging all State Governments to procure radiography machines and train their personnel on the use of the facility.
According to information sourced on internet, cost of refurbished GE digital X-ray systems range from $59,500 to $125,000.
The 22 Federal Medical Centers established by Federal Government are located in state capital, especially in situations where the apex secondary health institution run by the state does not adequately meet the demands for specialist health care by the citizenry.
To this end, the House mandated its Committee on healthcare services to take necessary steps to ensure the provision of funds in the 2017 Appropriation Act for the provision of radiography machines to all federal health institutions in Nigeria with the target of at least one machine per State before 2019, with adequate training for personnel to manage and maintain such machines.
Sponsor of the motion, Abiodun Awoleye, sponsor of the motion, who cited the World Health Organisation (WHO) report, stated that cancer accounts for 13% of all deaths registered in the world and slightly above that figure in the middle and low income countries.
“At the time of the report, Nigerian has the highest recorded cases with the prediction that it would triple due to ‘vastly inadequate healthcare system’ and that the country had only seven functional radiotherapy machines and five Linear Accerator (UNAC) in the following health institutions: Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu; University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); Usman Dan Fodio Hospital, Sokoto and National Hospital, Abuja.
He however noted that none of the two Cobalt 60 teletherapy machine in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University College Hospital, Ibadan, are functional and that the management of the hopsitals cannot service them due to lack of foreign currency to do so.
Awoleye who bemoaned the fate of 170 million Nigerian population without a functional machine required for radiotherapy which is an integral part of treatment of cancer, noted that South Africa with less than 53 million population has over 70 functional machines and a centre in the United States of America, Anderson Cancer Centre has over 30 functional machines.
The 22 Federal Medical Centres owned by Federal Government are located in Abakaliki, Eboyin state; Abeokuta, Ogun State; Asaba, Delta State; Azare, Bauchi State; Bida, Niger State; Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State; Birnin-Kudu, Jigawa State and Ebute-Meta, Lagos State.
Others are: Federal Medical Centres in Gombe, Gombe State; Gusau, Zamfara State; Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti State; Jalingo, Taraba State; Kastina, Katsina State; Keffi, Nasarawa State; Lokoja, Kogi State; Makurdi, Benue State; Nguru, Yobe State; Owerri, Imo State; Owo, Ondo State; Umuahia, Abia State; Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and Yola, Adamawa state.
