The Federal Government is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to facilitate the acquisition and maintenance of state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment in cancer centers across the country.
This initiative was disclosed by Prof. Usman Aliyu, Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), during the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) Initiative Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement Workshop held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Aliyu highlighted the significance of the partnership, emphasizing the need to replicate the success of the NSIA-Lagos University Teaching Hospital (NSIA-LUTH) cancer center in other regions.
The move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to upgrade the six cancer centers located in the country’s six geopolitical zones, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing cancer treatment facilities.
Tunji Alausa, representing the Minister of State for Health, emphasized the growing burden of cancer in Nigeria, citing statistics from the 2022 Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) report.
Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and community engagement in tackling the cancer menace.