From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that it is working closely with the private health care facilities to tackle the rising cases of cancer.
Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance in Abuja, at a meeting with officials of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre and Specialist Hospital, Lagos that recently secured accreditation from the National Postgraduate Medical College (NPMC) to run a residency programme on clinical and radiation oncology.
The minister, who was represented by Lolade Adeyemi, special adviser, Research and Innovation, said the milestone, being the first of its kind for a private hospital in Nigeria, represents a significant leap in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
He said: “The inception of this residency programme is not merely an academic achievement, but a vital contribution towards addressing the critical shortage of oncology specialists in Nigeria.
“By providing first-class postgraduate training in clinical and radiation oncology, the hospital is playing a pivotal role in the collective mission to improve health outcomes for cancer patients, and advance the overall standard of medical care in Nigeria.”
The minister commended Modupe Elebute-Odunsi, co-founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Marcelle Ruth Cancer Centre, for her visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to enhancing the capacity and quality of oncology care in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, in her remarks, Elebute-Odunsi lamented the increasing challenges of cancer in Nigeria, stressing the need for more enlightenment to reduce people’s vulnerability and exposure to cancer.
She equally lamented the dearth of manpower in the cancer management in Nigeria, hence the excitement for the opportunity to contribute to building more manpower in Nigeria as regards management of cancer.
“We are delighted to participate in much-needed capacity building to increase the number of oncology specialists by the provision of first-class postgraduate clinical and radiation oncology training within the country.
“We understand the profound responsibility that comes with this accreditation, hence we will craft an exemplary curriculum that not only meets but exceeds international benchmarks.
“Additionally, this partnership with NPMC and the Federal Ministry of Health marks a significant step towards fortifying the capacity of our healthcare workforce in the specialised field of oncology,” she said.
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