Calabar- A former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, has urged the Federal Government to establish more cancer control and treatment centres in the country.
Abubakar made the call on Saturday at the official ground-breaking ceremony of Asi Ukpo Oncology Centre in Calabar.
He said that the establishment of more cancer treatment centres across the world would reduce medical tourism abroad.
According to him, the existing nine cancer centres spread across the country were not at their very best in rendering the needed services for the over 160 million Nigerians.
He said that cancer was fast emerging as the leading cause of death worldwide, hence the need for the Federal Government to establish more centres for its handling across the country.
“The significance of this stone-laying ceremony means a lot to Nigeria and the world because with the equipment that will be fixed here, the glamour for medical tourism abroad will reduce.
“I must commend the Chairman of the Oncology Centre, retired Brig.-Gen. Anthony Ukpo for conceptualising this idea to invest in healthcare.
“It is sad to know that even the nine cancer centres in the country are currently not operating in their optimal best.
“I am calling on the Federal Government to establish more cancer treatment centres across the country’’, he said.
The former head of state urged Ukpo to make the center a model for the treatment and early detection of cancer patients in the country.
Earlier, Ukpo, who is also the chairman of Asi Ukpo Diagnostic and Medical Centre in Calabar, said that healthcare should not necessarily be managed by doctors alone.
He said that his objective to invest in healthcare, as a retired military officer, was to save lives and not to make money.
Ukpo said that he lost two of his brothers to cancer, adding that it was the reason behind his building the centre.
“Asi Ukpo diagnostic center is one of the best in the country. We get samples from different states for diagnosis.
“Putting up the oncology centre will equally complement Cross River as a medical and tourism city in Nigeria.
“With God on our side, we hope to inaugurate the oncology centre by next year with a view to start treatment of cancer,’’ he said.
Speaking earlier, Cross River governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, said that his administration would established an eye, hypertension and diabetes centre to support the oncology centres for improved healthcare services in the state.
Dr Evaristus Oseigwe, who delivered a paper on “Overcoming the Burden of Cancer in Nigeria”, said that Nigeria recorded over 100,000 new cases of cancer yearly.
Oseigwe attributed the increase to late presentation of cancer cases by patients to the hospitals for treatment.
He advised cancer patients to always report early enough for diagnosis and treatment.