THE Management of cancer in Nigeria has remained a national scandal. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer yearly, out of which about 80,000 die.
Consequently, about 240 Nigerians die of cancer daily, 10 die every hour. Nigeria’s cancer death ratio of 4 in 5 affected persons is one of the worst in the world.
According to WHO, cervical cancer which is virtually 100 per cent preventable kills one Nigerian woman every hour, breast cancer kills 40 Nigerians daily while prostate cancer kills 26 Nigerian men daily. These three common cancers alone, kill an estimated 90 Nigerians daily.
From the foregoing, anyone battling with cancer in the country today faces great challenges and may have to wait for a long time to find succour.
Diagnoses of cancer in Nigeria is currently a potential death sentence, no thanks to outdated radiotherapy machines that make treatment and management a mirage.
Many cancer cases require radiotherapy during the course of treatment. But the current gaps in radiotherapy care portends grave future challenges. The machines are unserviceable and break down repeatedly, due to wear and tear, and lack of maintenance, in fact many of these machines are outrightly obsolete.
For months, radiotherapy machines across the country have been out of use. They are part of the N29 billion VAMED project procured over a decade and a half ago and have attained the end of their life span.
The machines were earmarked for refurbishment in14 Federal Teaching hospitals across the country with state-of-the-art medical equipment. Despite these, cancer patients are still running from pillar to post.
The bane of cancer care and management in the country is outdated radiotherapy machines, erratic power supply, high cost of drugs and the stigma of living with the disease among others, which are not helping the situation.
There is compelling evidence that investments in radiotherapy will bring about treatment of large numbers of cancer cases and create substantial economic benefits.
But without tackling the electricity conundrum and institutionalizing good maintenance culture, successful treatments and improved outcomes as well as increased survival rates of patients will be unattainable in the country.
By taking steps to implement WHO’s new guidance, early diagnosis can be attained to ensure prompt treatment.
WHO’s new guide to early cancer diagnosis includes improved public awareness; encouragement to seek care early; investments in strengthening as well as equipping healthcare services and training of health workers need to be adopted.
The comprehensive cancer control guidance developed by WHO to protect cancer patients should be encouraged and implemented without delay.
We call on health authorities to adopt cancer control initiatives that involve prevention, early diagnosis and screening, treatment, palliative care, and survivor care in the national cancer control plan.
The post Reducing national cancer mortality rate appeared first on Vanguard News.
Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2lboDM6
No comments:
Post a Comment