Rate of cancer cases worries stakeholders

Mr Runcie Chidebe, the Executive Director, Project Pink Blue, a non-profit organisation, has decried the increased cases of cancer in the country, saying it is `worrisome, discouraging and disturbing’.
Chidebe made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
He noted that it was important for governments at all levels to invest in diagnostic capacities and improve public awareness of the ailment.
According to him, when the government look into the cost and complexity of cancer treatments, cancer related deaths will be reduced drastically.
“In 2018, it was reported by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that 115,950 new cases of cancer were diagnosed and the number of deaths recorded were 70,327 in Nigeria.
“The government needs to invest in diagnostic capacities, implement measures to reduce stigma and improve public awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer.
“They also need to implement cost-effective population-based screenings and early detection programmes.
“Corporate organisations and philanthropists should also support the fight against cancer by choosing cancer programmes as their corporate social responsibilities and adopt cancer patients, because we can win the fight against cancer if we all fight together,” he said.
Chidebe also acknowledged the cancer control programmes put in place by Lagos, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Niger, Ondo and Oyo States government.
He however called on other state governments to emulate them in order to achieve a cancer free country. (NAN)