The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has disclosed that the institute has concluded plans to embark on massive awareness campaign in rural communities across the country about all forms of cancers.
He stated this when a team from Leukemia Careplus Initiative led by its Founder/Executive Director, Dr. Ukoma Chi-Kadibia, visited him in his office in Abuja, weekend.
The visit was part of activities marking the World Blood Cancer Day.
Prof. Malami assured the visiting team that NICRAT will continue to work with them and all other relevant stakeholders in the cancer space to improve cancer care in the country.
He noted that Leukemia Careplus Initiative will be deeply involved in the campaign in the rural areas when it commences.
While noting that NICRAT was established as a child of necessity to tackle all cancer related challenges in the country, Prof. Malami disclosed that his institute has received tremendous support and encouragement from the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government which has led to the many achievements the Institute recorded within a short time of its establishment.
NICRAT, he said, will continue to give due attention to awareness creation to prevent Nigerians from contracting the disease, because according to him, the cost of treating cancer is huge.
Prof. Malami vowed to work closely with the Leukemia Careplus Initiative and other stakeholders to map out plans for possible establishment of stem cell transplant centres in Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Ukoma advocated for the enlargement of the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) to accommodate blood cancer patients.
The visit, according to him, was to seek improvement in patient care and outcomes for patients living with blood cancers in Nigeria.
“We are here to seek how to make stem cell transplant a routine and affordable procedure in Nigeria,” Dr. Ukoma said.
He lamented that diagnosis of blood cancer in Nigeria is still froth with so much anxiety both for the patient, his/her care givers and the haematologists.
The visit also witnessed the decoration of the NICRAT Director General, Prof. Malami with an emblem of the World Blood Cancer Day.
