The President of the Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologists of Nigeria, (ARCON), Dr. Festus Igbinoba has said that Nigeria has only 80 Oncologists but requires 1, 000 Oncologists to take care of the increasing number of cancer patients in Nigeria.
Igbinoba said this at the ARCON Pre-workshop of the ongoing 4th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference holding at Marriot Hotel in Lagos.
Tagged: “Oncologist Status: Relevant to Cancer Care in Nigeria Today will bring together Oncologists, policymakers, pharmacists, and investors”, the conference is expected to be graced by the Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.
According to Dr. Igbinoba, “the recent statistics indicated that by 2025, the projection is that there will be 20million new cases of cancer worldwide and that is the population of some states put together in Nigeria.”
He posited further that the statistics showed that in developing countries, including Nigeria, in the no too far distant future, cancer incidence cases will double. It is major problem and is largely because in most cases, cancer presents itself in advanced stages.
Sadly, he said Nigeria has only 80 Oncologists with less than 10 Radiation Radiotherapy across Nigeria. “This is far insignificant and we are still struggling with those leaving the country for greener pastures and some consultants who are leaving the system because they are tired and dissolution.”
He pointed out that in any civilized clime, it is supposed to be one Oncologist to 20,000 people. Nigeria will require more 1,000 Oncologists urgently to address the challenge of cancer care in Nigeria.
He called on the government and private sector investors to deliberate and find a workable principle to set up more Radio Therapy facilities in Nigeria so that the common people who don’t have money to go to India and other advanced countries can find a place here for appropriate care.
Igbinoba stated that the essence of the conference is to see how to increase the number of Radio Therapy facilities in Nigeria: what is required for start-ups and how all stakeholders can work harmoniously to make it work.
In her words, the Vice President of ARCON, Dr. Amaka Lasebikan mentioned the creation of the Cancer Health Fund by the Federal Ministry of Health to assist indigent cancer patients in paying some of their hospital bills.
“The scheme includes holistic care for cancer patients that may require surgery, therapy, and systematic therapy and it becomes operational on Monday, 13th, September”, she said.
She said that breast cancer patients spend between 400,000 naira to 1.2million naira which is not a small amount for an average Nigerian, noting that, “we hope that well-meaning Nigerians will explore other funding solutions that can help indigents patients at the state levels receive care.”