Renowned oncologist and Director of Clinical Trials, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, has said 250 radiotherapy machines were required to effectively tackle cancer in the country.
This is even as the Director General of National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, said his agency would collaborate with the private sector to augment its 2024 budgetary allocation.
Recall that the government had announced establishment of six cancer centres at the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Jabi, Abuja for the North Central geo-political zone; FMC Ebute Metta, Lagos for the South West; the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Enugu, for the South East; FMC Gombe, for North East, Uthman Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital, UDUTH, Sokoto; and University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin for the South South.
The government had earmarked N200 million for cancer treatment and care in the 2024 budget.
The amount which is budgeted under the Cancer Health Fund, is to be accessed by citizens diagnosed with cancer.
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