Yobe State does not have a single oncologist for cancer treatment.
This was the declaration of the president of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Dr. Adamu Umar, this weekend at the Okapi Children Cancer Foundation walk for children fighting cancer in Abuja.
Umar therefore warned that Nigeria is presently running short of clinical oncologists.
He said Nigeria with over 250 million people has less than 100 clinical oncologists who are only situated in major urban areas.
His words, “When you don’t have the appropriate equipment and clinicians, the cases of wrong diagnosis and misdiagnosis become a problem, even in terms of treatment. Now, Nigeria as a country of over 250 million people has less than 100 clinical oncologists catering for the huge population. These are the people that diagnose and treat cancer. Even the 100 are in urban areas, Yobe State as a whole does not have a single clinical oncologist, so how can cancer be appropriately diagnosed in the country.
“This is the problem we have in Nigeria and why we would continue to call on the government to increase funding for health.”
Chief volunteer, Okapi Children Cancer Foundation, Kemi Adekanye, said the major issue with cancer in Nigeria is the lack of awareness.
She said, “One of the major issues with cancer is the lack of awareness. Most people don’t know children can have cancer, and when they see the signs and symptoms, they have this God forbid attitude and run from hospitals without finishing their treatment.”
Consultant paediatrician with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in charge of children with cancer and other disabilities, Dr. Uduak Offiong said cancer is gradually becoming a public health problem in the country.
Offiong noted that the most common cancer in children used to be Burkitt lymphoma, adding that the common one now is nephroblastoma (kidney cancer), cancer of the eye and Leukemia.
The event was aimed at raising awareness and funds for children living with cancer.