By Dan-Maryam Zayamu
In order to increase the number of oncologists and other experts in the area of cancer care, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), has concluded plans to engage in massive training and retraining of experts in the country.
This is in order to close the gap created by the brain-drain of medical doctors including oncologists and other experts in the area of cancer who have left for other countries.
The Director General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has disclosed when responding to questions from journalists at the E-Cancer Congress in Abuja, yesterday.
The objectives of the e-Cancer Congress was to review cancer care in Nigeria; identify gaps, barriers and facilitators to optimal cancer care in Nigeria in line with global best practices and also to identify mechanisms to promote value based cancer care in Nigeria.
He, however, applauded the Federal Government for its plan to procure radiotherapy equipment for seven cancer centres in the country.
Prof Malami particularly commended the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, for his concern and also spearheading the process of the procurement of the required equipment for cancer care and diagnosis in the country.
The NICRAT Director General explained that: “There are a lot of factors that are making our young and vibrant doctors including oncologist to actually leave the country. This has contributed a lot to the shortage we are having in the country.
“What we are actually doing, or what we will do is to continue to train more oncologists so as to cover the gap created by those who have left for other countries.
“We also want to commend the Federal Government for the establishment of this institute so training, diagnosis, equipment provision is also part of the components of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment.
“We are also working hard to bring back home our specialists, especially oncologists from the diaspora to support our efforts here.
“We are in the process of trying to midwife the institute and I believe we will get there one day.”
On the efforts of the federal government to improve cancer care in the country, Prof. Malami said: “There are a lot of programmes that the government has introduced into radiotherapy.
“Currently, the Federal Government is planning to buy radiotherapy equipment to six to seven centres. One of it is the provision of linear accelerator to treat cancer.
“In the area of nuclear medicine, a lot of efforts are been put in place. For the first time, the country is actually planning to have cyclotrons that will supply other centres. So many things are ongoing concurrently to boost the care of cancer in the country. We are not ahead but we are making a very big efforts for cancer care.”
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