… Decorated as NCS Ambassador
By Our Reporter
The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has insisted that for the fight against cancer to be successful, there must be multi-disciplinary cooperation among experts in the cancer space in the country.
He stated this when the new leadership of the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS), led by its President, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, paid him a courtesy in his office in Abuja.
It would be recalled that last week, the outgoing NCS president, Dr. Adamu Alhassan, formally introduced the new NCS president, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, to the Director General of NICRAT where he (Omonisi) promised to come back to share his 2-year agenda.
Prof. Malami expressed the determination of NICRAT to work closely with all experts and other relevant stakeholders in the cancer space in the country.
He noted that the support and cooperation of all the experts and stakeholders in the cancer space was necessary to ensure that Nigerians, regardless of their location and status, are aware of how to prevent themselves from all forms of cancer and also access treatment when the need arises.
He called on the experts and stakeholders to offer progressive advice and suggestions to the Institute to enable it serve Nigerians better, stressing that: “We are open to suggestions and advice.”
The NICRAT DG, therefore, vowed to support and work closely with the NCS leadership in order to improve the current cancer status in the country.
Earlier, while unveiling his agenda for the NCS, Prof. Omonisi said that the Society will participate actively in the fight against cancer in the country to ensure that NICRAT achieves its mandate.
He applauded the NICRAT DG for taking the Institute to an enviable height within a short time despite the challenges it encountered in its early stage.
He, however, appealed for the establishment of Cancer Registry in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He also advocated for the proper coordination of all cancer related activities among agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country, insisting that all conflicting areas should be harmonized for the good of all Nigerians.
Prof. Omonisi however, disclosed that the NICRAT Director General was honoured with the title of NCS Ambassador because of his immense contribution to the NCS in particular and fight against cancer in the general over the years.
