Project Pink Blue (PPB) and the Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) foundation, both Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) have called for an increase in oncology research.
A statement issued to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday by the Communication and Social Media Lead (PPB),Mr Chika Joseph, stated that an increase in oncology research was a critical mechanism to reduce cancer burden.
It disclosed that Nigeria remained a major contributor to the overall cancer burden on the African continent with one of the world’s poorest five years cancer survival rates.
The statement said that this grave need led cancer interventions to become a major cornerstone of ACT foundation’s implementation efforts since its inception.
The statement quoted Osayi Alile, Chief Executive Officer of ACT foundation,Osayi Alile saying that his foundation had supported organisations working in all levels of intervention.
He said the foundation had supported intervention from initiatives focused, advocacy, cancer awareness and providing free cancer screenings.
The statement also quoted Rep. Tanko Sununu, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on healthcare as saying that research was important as it would allow the country to review its performance on cancer care.
He said that such move would allow the country to check the standard of its impact and proffer solution on the way forward, adding that there was need to ensure stability in service delivery, and also ensure increase in budgetary allocation.
The statement also quoted Julie Torode, Board member and visiting scientist, Global Oncology Group, Institute of Cancer Policy at Kings College London, United Kingdom, as saying that Nigeria impact on cancer research was yet to be felt.
She said that Nigeria had only contributed 19 per cent of the entire cancer research publication in the sub-Sahara Africa and four per cent of entire Africa over a 12-year period.
She disclosed that Nigeria contributions included academic writings and peer review journals, adding that Africa academic institutions need to develop independent funding sources (federal and philanthropic).
Torode stated that such idea would allow Africa academic institutions drive their own research agenda and become less dependent on international cancer researchers and research funders.
The statement also quoted the President of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA),Dr Uche Ojinmah as asserting that “the NMA is really interested in cancer research in Nigeria”.
He said that most of the data currently in use were from climes with different genetics and social dynamics from Nigeria.
“NMA is working hard to ensure that the welfare of oncologists is a priority and promote advocacy to meet the needs of cancer patients.
“We encourage activities that are important in strengthening research culture and have the Nigerian Journal of Medicine that promotes the publication of cancer research,” Ojinmah said.
The statement also disclosed that stakeholders who are championing the elimination of cancer disease in Nigeria commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his move on cancer elimination.
They commended Buhari for appointing Prof Usman Malami in February, as the Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research Treatment, which was established in December 2017.
The statement also said that Rep Muhammed Usman, a member of the House of Representative, 8th National Assembly, who sponsored the bill for the establishment of the National Agency for the Control of Cancer, shared his views.
According to Usman, Nigeria’s major challenge is not policies but implementation and that we do very little to ensure that our policies are implemented.
He said that to ensure that the new National Institute on Cancer Research and Treatment Centre is successful in its operations, there was the need to create a secretariat to house the institute, promote capacity building programme for the staff and lastly create a budget line for its operation.
“Research especially cancer research is expensive and time-consuming. We need Nigerian researchers to be empowered to be able to conduct world-class research that can be published in renowned international journals.
The Programme Coordinator of PPB, Mrs Gloria Okwu, explained that the intentions of PPB and ACT Foundation was to drive comprehensive cancer research among the oncology workforce in Nigeria and pay attention to the need of cancer patients.
“We want Nigerians to do research for Nigerians. We want them to begin to look at our different peculiarities and answer the many questions that plague us through research.”
She thanked the ACT foundation, and other partners for their support towards cancer control in Nigeria and for their contribution in advocating for the establishment of National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment.