LAGOS – A radiologist, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye on Monday advised the Federal Government to provide adequate funding for the control of cancer in the country to reduce the death rate.
Okoye, who is also the founder of Breast Without Spot, a Non-Governmental Organisation, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the prevalence of cancer among Nigerians was a cause for concern.
She called for the strengthening of cancer centres in the country to prevent the mass [pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]movement of patients to hospitals abroad for treatment.
“Everyday people die of cancer. It`s really profound and we need to save these lives.
“So the media, everybody in Nigeria should draw the attention of our leaders and hold them accountable.
“They should look into the funding that has been recommended, they should infuse it into cancer control so that we stop losing our citizens.
“And create cancer centres so that our citizens would stop `exodusing` out of Nigeria for medical attention. So, it`s best for us to take care of our own right here in our own land.
“So, this is our passionate call to our government and to all the politicians that are asking for our votes.
“We are telling them that unless they show evidence that on their priority agenda that they have cancer control and infusion of funds into cancer control, they won’t get the vote of Nigerians.“
She said that more than 250,000 new cases of cancer were being diagnosed in the country annually with nearly 10,000 deaths recorded. (NAN)