By Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
President Bola Tinubu has flagged off the Cancer Screening Center at the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State with a charge to the university management to ensure the enhancement of cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment of Nigerians.
President Tinubu, Represented by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi said that the center will help in ending medical tourism usually embarked by Nigerians.
Senator Umahi commended the hospital management for carrying out a free dialysis services to the people of Nigeria and expressed the confidence that the hospital will go a long way in restoring hope and confidence on the people of Nigeria.
He also commended President Tinubu for donating a 2000 kilowatts of solar power to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging, (MRI) unit adding that the unit in the university remains the only center in the South East and urge Nigerians to visit the hospital for their healthcare needs.
In her address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), Mrs. Chioma Nweze said that the flag off of the cancer center in Ebonyi State is a critical intervention designed to provide free medical services to the South East zone particularly those who cannot afford healthcare.
She noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration recognizes that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right, and it is the responsibility of his administration to ensure that every individual in the South East has access to quality healthcare, regardless of their background or financial situation.
“Our Medical Outreach Initiative is a multifaceted programme that will provide a range of free medical services, including cancer screening for six months, free eye screening, and medical glasses to the first 200 patients.
“We will also provide dialysis treatment to patients for one year. These services will be delivered by a team of highly trained medical professionals here at DUFUHS, using state-of-the-art equipment and facilities.
“As we launch this programme today, we do so with the conviction that every life is precious, and that every individual deserves access to quality healthcare.
“We believe that by working together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our people, and create a healthier, more prosperous future for ourselves and generations to come.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, DUFUHS, Prof Jessy Uneke said that the University cancer center will function as a center for the use of advanced technology for the diagnosis of cancer and related diseases.
He stated that the center will employ the latest experimental and methodological diagnostic techniques which includes, blood chemistry test, complete blood count, (CBC), cytogenetic analysis among others.
Prof Uneke said that according to the World Health Organization Global Cancer observation, (GLOBOCON) report of 2022, a total of 127, 763 number of new cases of cancer were reported in Nigeria adding that of the number, 48, 096 (37.6%) were males while 79,667, (62.4%) were females.
He maintained that the report indicated the number of deaths to stand at 79, 542 of which 32, 905, (41.4%) were males while 46,637, (58.6%) were females.
He noted that the top three leading cancers in males in Nigeria ranked by the number of deaths are prostrate cancer, colorectum cancer, and liver cancer while in females, the top three leading cancer deaths are caused by breast cancer, Cervix uteri cancer and colorectum cancer.
The Vice Chancellor stated that at the DUFUHS Cancer Center, a total of 207 cancer patients have so far been treated. Of this number, 88, (42.5%) were males while 119, (57.5%) were females. A total of 107, (51.7%) of the patients were aged between 40 years and 69 years old. Ends.
