By Our Reporter
The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has appealed to the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) to inaugurate Cancer Adhoc Committees in all state chapters across the country.
He made the appeal when a delegation from the NMA Sokoto Chapter led by its Chairman, Dr. Farouk Kabiru Umar, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja, on Wednesday.
The inauguration of the Cancer Committees, according to him, will enable the revered medical association to contribute its quota to the fight against all forms of cancers through advocacy and awareness creation in their various states.
Prof. Malami noted that NICRAT is determined to fight cancer to a stand-still in Nigeria, hence, the need for all critical stakeholders including the NMA to join forces with NICRAT in its effort to achieve its mandate.
He commended the delegation of the NMA Sokoto chapter for the visit, describing it as home coming.
He congratulated the Chairman, NMA Sokoto chapter for emerging victorious during the election few weeks ago, assuring that NICRAT will work with them in the area of cancer advocacy in the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NMA Sokoto chapter, Dr. Farouk Kabiru Umar, commended the NICRAT management for the great work they are doing in their effort to ensure that NICRAT achieves its mandate by fighting cancer to a halt in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the Sokoto Chapter of the NMA has as concluded plans to inaugurate a cancer ad-hoc committee that will be in-charge of all cancer related issues.
He explained that the inauguration of the Cancer committee is to enable to NMA Sokoto Chapter support the activities of NICRAT by disseminating cancer related messages to all nooks and crannies of the state.
This, according to him, will enable the Chapter contribute its quota in awareness creation on all forms of cancers, which will, in the long run, reduce the incidences of cancers in Sokoto state.
While reiterating the determination of the NMA Sokoto chapter to support NICRAT in achieving its mandate, Dr. Kabiru, expressed optimism that following his antecedent, the NICRAT Director General has the capacity to take the Institute to greater heights.
He disclosed that Prof. Malami was instrumental to the execution of many legacy projects when he was the NMA Chairman Sokoto Chapter few years back.
Dr. Kabiru assured that the NMA Sokoto Chapter will always support the activities of NICRAT to ensure that cancer messages get to the grassroots in the state.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a stand-alone banner to the NICRAT DG by the NMA officials.
