Experts express concern over high rate of cancer in Nigeria

The Association of Radiologists of West Africa has expressed concern over rising cases of cancer in the country. Putting the annual (new) reported cases of cancer at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, alone at between 650 and 800, a radiographer, Dr. Theresa Elumelu, said that there
was need for members of the public to undergo cancer screening for early detection and treatment.
Elumelu, who spoke on Monday at a press conference marking the association’s 50th anniversary, hinted that the teaching hospital had no equipment for the treatment of cervical cancer.
She advised that the government should make provision of health equipment a priority in the country.
Earlier, a Consultant in the Radiology Department, UCH, Dr. Biodun Adeyinka, had lamented that the UCH was confronted with many challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the hospital.
Adeyinka listed the challenges as paucity of funds, shortage of modern radiological and radiotherapy equipment, obsolete and non-functional equipment, epileptic power supply, poor maintenance culture and inadequate training of personnel.
These, he said, contributed to increased morbidity and mortality rate in the country.
He said, “In Nigeria, the Federal Government 2005 Vamed Health Intervention project, which was designed to revamp the health facilities in all the teaching hospitals in the country, positively changed the face of radiology and radiotherapy by injecting new and modern equipment into health system, to replace the obsolete and non functional equipment.
“Most radiological equipment requires upgrading or replacement every five years in order to ensure optimal function and ensure that appropriate radiation is being delivered during radiotherapy.”
Adeyinka warned that the use of old equipment for cancer treatment and management could lead to risk of radiation leakage which could eventually affect both the radiographers and the patients.

-Punch

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