By Hassan Zaggi
Over 40 groups have raised the alarm over the expiration of the National Strategic Plan for Prevention and Control of Cancer of Cervix (2017-2021), with no move by the federal government to review.
This, according to them, will create a vacuum in the fight against cancer and will bring huge embarrassment to the country among the comity of nations.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, the 40 groups under the umbrella of End Cervical Cancer Nigeria Initiative (ECCNI), have, therefore, called on him, to, as matter of urgency, initiate the process to review the plan.
The groups insisted that it would be an embarrassment to Nigeria if the document which is strategic to the fight against cancer is allowed to expire without a review process in place.
“We, the undersigned stakeholders hereby humbly request that you use your good office to ensure the review of above-mentioned document before its expiration sir.
“This request is being made in response to the observation at the gynaecologic oncology side meeting held on the 27th October 2021 during the 2021 International Cancer Week in Abuja; that there was no publicly known mechanism to update the about to expire document as at the time of the meeting.
“The honourable minister may wish to note that Nigeria was the only sovereign nation that was signatory to the call for global collaboration for elimination of cervical cancer in 2018 by the DG of WHO.
“The call led to the development and subsequent launching of the roadmap called Global Strategy to Accelerate Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Disease of Public Health Significance.
“It will therefore not speak well of Nigeria and your exalted position in the committees of ministers of health if the National strategic document is allowed to expire without a review process in place,” part of the letter reads.
The 40 –member group, therefore, assured the Minister that it would “provide necessary technical support for the review process to ensure timely and detailed review if our support is required.”
Some of the groups that signed the letter include
Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS), the Bricon Foundation, Save a life cancer awareness and support network, WHO DG’s Expert Group for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Initiative, Eradicate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria, Gynaecological Oncology Society of Nigeria (GOSON) and Community Health Research Initiative.
Other members of the group include Rose Breast Health and Cancer Network Inc, Aisha Abba Abdullahi Memorial Foundation , Dove-Haven Foundation, SolumKolia Breast Cancer Foundation, Joyce John Cancer Foundation, ONCOLOGY PHARMACY PRACTITIONERS, Pink Africa Foundation, Oncology Nurse, PRINCESS NIKKY BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION, Aminu Magashi Garba Foundation (AMGF), Friends of the Community Organization (FOCO), among many others.
