By Our Reporter
The Director General of National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has disclosed that the Institute has concluded plans to collaborate with an Italian manufacturing company- General Medical Merate (GMM), in the areas of capacity building of biomedical engineers and maintenance of relevant medical equipment for cancer screening and control.
He stated this after he joined global experts at the official launch of the latest innovation in Mamography with Tomosynthesis features manufactured by GMM in Italy.
The NICRAT Director General who toured the state-of-the -art factories also visited the Oncology Department in Belleria Hospital where he went round on demonstration on tomosynthesis and image automatic guided biopsy at different patient positions.
On arrival, Prof. Malami was received by the Senior President of GMM Group, Mr. Bruno Toniolo and was later led on the tour of the facilities by the Customer Service General Manager Medical, Mrs Carlotta Fontana.
While expressing optimism that the visit and subsequent partnership will have huge impact in the fight against breast cancer in Nigeria, Prof. Malami said: “The visit was an eye opener because we saw the newest innovation in the world when it comes to the effort to diagnose and manage breast cancer.
“We will do our best given the available resources to ensure that we introduce some of these innovations in Nigeria. With the interest shown and commitment demonstrated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the fight against cancer, we are confident that in the next few years, Nigeria will take the lead in the fight against cancer in Africa.”
It would be recalled that on March 7,2025, GMM Italy representative in Nigeria – Standard Electro-Medical Equipment Company (SEMED) wrote a letter to the DG of NICRAT titled: ‘An invitation to GMM Italy for the Launch of the latest innovation in mammography with Tomosynthesis Features.’
The letter reads in part: “I am writing to formally invite you to visit our factory in Italy from May 6- 9, 2025, for the official launch of the latest innovation in mammography systems, equipped with advanced tomosynthesis technology.
“Given NICRAT’s role in the fight against cancer and its commitment to adopting best practices, this visit presents a unique opportunity for first-hand engagement with cutting-edge diagnostic solutions.
“The new mammography system with tomosynthesis significantly enhances early detection and diagnostic accuracy, poised to revolutionize breast cancer screening and management.
“During the visit, the program will feature a detailed presentation on the new mammography technology, a live demonstration with hands-on experience, technical sessions led by imaging experts and engineers, a discussion about potential partnerships for technology transfer, and opportunities for training.”
General Medical Merate was established in 1965 as a manufacturer of X-ray systems, while IMS Giotto began focusing on mammography systems in 1983. However, following their high expertise and consolidated know-how, IMS Giotto supports the GMM Group in developing innovative products that meet the increasingly demanding needs of modern breast imaging.
