…Academia, NGOs, media, govt officials, others as members
By Dan-Maryam Zayamu`
A globally renown Radiation Oncologist at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Adeniyi Adenipekun, has been appointed as the Chairman of the 2024 International Cancer Week (ICW) Committee.
The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, disclosed this while inaugurating the committee virtually, during the weekend.
The Committee is saddled with the responsibility of planning and ensuring that the 2024 International Cancer Week is celebrated in accordance with international standard and for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The 2024 ICW committee has members drawn from all sectors including the academia, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), government officials, the media and many others.
Speaking while inaugurating the committee, the NICRAT Director General commended all members of the committee for accepting to be part of the planning of the 2024 ICW.
He charged the committee members to put in their best, bring their wealth of experiences to bare to ensure the 2024 International Cancer Week is successful.
Prof. Malami assured the committee of the maximum support of NICRAT, noting that the Institute is ready to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the improvement of cancer care, research and treatment in Nigeria.
On his part, speaking on behalf of the members of the committee, the Chairman, Prof. Adenipekun, assured of his readiness and other members of the committee to ensure that the 2024 ICW is successful.
He, however, charged sub-committees of the ICW to cooperate with each other and work closely with the main committee in order to achieve good outcome.
Prof. Adenipekun reiterated the commitment of the committee to ensuring that the 2024 ICW is successful and stands out as one of the best in recent time.
Earlier, the Director, Clinical Services of NICRAT, Dr Musa Ali Gombe, said the ICW is one of the pivotal events in the fight against cancer in the country.
“The International Cancer Week initiative is a singular initiative under which the entire country can unite together in the fight against cancer epidemic, using the opportunity to draw cancer control stakeholders from all over the world,” he stressed.
The week-long event, according to Dr. Ali Gombe, will provide the opportunity to reach out to the public, instigating cancer awareness and provide free cancer screening programs across the nation.
He, therefore, called for the support of all critical stakeholders and indeed, all Nigerians, so as to make the week-long activity impactful and beneficial to all.
In a related development, the NICRAT Director General has constituted an Expert Advisory Panel for the 2024 International Cancer Week. The role of the Panel is to provide guidance and critical oversight to the week-long activity.
Members of the Advisory Panel include Dr. Ramatu Hassan, Dr Okpako Okpikpi, Dr. David Atuwo, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, Prof Ima-Obong Ekanem and Prof. Ifeoma
