By HEADLINENEWS.NEWS correspondent
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Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reveals a concerning rise in breast cancer rates in Nigeria.
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Alausa emphasizes the need for enhanced cancer prevention and early detection strategies at a regional seminar on cancer awareness.
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First Ladies’ advocacy efforts and government initiatives are highlighted as vital in increasing cancer awareness and improving funding for cancer care.
HEADLINENEWS.NEWS reports that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has revealed a concerning rise in breast cancer rates in the country, noting that the incidence has more than doubled since the 1960s.
The minister highlighted this alarming trend at the High-level Regional Seminar of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation of African member states in Abuja on Thursday.
The seminar, which began on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, concluded on Thursday, May 16, 2024, with the theme Innovative Approaches to Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.
The health minister presented data showing the increase in breast cancer incidence in Nigeria from 13.7 per 100,000 in the 1960s to 26.1 per 100,000 by 2016, with the most recent estimate in 2022 indicating a continued high incidence.
He, therefore, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced cancer prevention and early detection strategies.
While breast cancer still leads with an incidence of 25.7%, the minister said prostate cancer with overall incidence of 14.1% has overtaken cervical cancer which is at 10.3%.
Dr. Alausa outlined the comprehensive approach being taken by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which includes cancer prevention, treatment, supply chain management, hospice and palliative care, advocacy, data management, research, governance, and finance.
“Our 4-point agenda includes improving healthcare governance, improving population health outcomes, unlocking the healthcare value chain, and ensuring health security for Nigerians,” he added.
He praised the African First Ladies of the OIC Member States and the First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) for their roles in championing cancer awareness and advocacy. Their efforts are vital in increasing awareness and improving funding for cancer care, he added.
“The acceptance of the First Ladies of this forum to serve as champions in their various countries is worthy of commendation. There are no better individuals or groups to do this than the First ladies,” Dr. Alausa noted.
The health minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to providing policy direction and support in the fight against cancer, pledging to assist neighboring countries as needed.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to also welcome all the delegates from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) African Member States especially my colleagues, the Honourable Ministers present here today, as well as distinguished oncology stakeholders within and outside Nigeria.
2. Today is very remarkable in our fight against cancer in Nigeria and the entire Africa. We are very delighted, because the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has taken the driver’s seat in the fight against cancer and other killer diseases in Nigeria. We are also pleased with the uncommon commitment of the Wife of the President, Our First Lady, Her Excellency, Distinguished Senator Oluremi Tinubu, OON, CON, who has also assumed the role of a co-pilot in the fight against cancer alongside with Mr. President.
3. Permit me to place on record that within this first year of the administration of his Excellency President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Health sector has received more attention than it has received in over two decades. Mr. President’s commitment stemmed from his Renewed Hope Agenda which has witnessed an unprecedented success in various sectors of the economy including health. President Tinubu’s particular interest in cancer care was sequel to our bringing to his notice the negative statistics available since the 1960s which has not been reversed by successive governments in Nigeria.
4. I want to remind us that the global distribution of predominant cancers has continued to change especially in developing countries. Low and Middle-income countries accounted for 51% of all cancers worldwide in 1975, the proportion increased to 55% in 2007 and to 70% in 2018. The rise in incidence of cancers is even worse with Breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal and lymphomas which have remained the top five common cancers in Nigeria for a long time now and the incidence is still on the increase.
5. Reports from the Nigerian National System of Cancer Registries (NSCR) showed that Breast Cancer incidence in Nigeria increased significantly; 1960-69 was 13.7/100, 000; 1990-99 was 24.7/100, 000; and an average of 26.1/100, 000 by 2000-2016.
6. The most recent estimate in 2022 still showed that breast cancer still leads with an incidence of 25.7%, prostate cancer with overall incidence of 14,1% has overtaken cervical cancer now with 10.3%. While cervical cancer remains the second commonest among women, its reduction in overall incidence can be largely attributed to the Federal Ministry of Health’s intervention as it is the only cancer that has been given a dedicated plan of action for eradication in Nigeria.
7. Our intention to eliminate cancer of the cervix is because, among other things, it is preventable and curable especially when detected early. On this note, I want to commend Her Excellency, Senator
Oluremi Tinubu for launching the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine last year for the prevention of cancer of the cervix. Her Excellency’s intervention has made the difference as it contributed to the level of acceptance of the vaccine despite some resistance in a few places.
8. In order to completely address the challenges of cancer care in our country, the current leadership of the Federal ministry of Health and Social Welfare is leaving no stone unturned. This is the reason we are in a hurry to ensure that the entire cancer continuum is given all the necessary priority attention. This includes: Cancer Prevention; treatment; supply chain management; Hospice and Palliative care; advocacy and Social Mobilization; data management and Research; governance and finance. These priorities of action of our cancer control efforts were adequately taken care of in our 4-point agenda which includes;
i. Improving Health care governance
ii. Improving Population Health Outcomes
iii. Unlocking the Healthcare value chain, and
iv. Health Security for Nigerians.
9. Her Excellency’s intention to lead the cancer Prevention and early detection approach is a very welcome development. This has been demonstrated by her acceptance to host the 3rd edition of the High-level Regional Seminar of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on promoting cancer awareness and advocacy programmes in the OIC African member states.
10. The acceptance of the First Ladies of this forum to serve as champions in their various countries is worthy of commendation. There are no better individuals or groups to do this than the First ladies. We appreciate similar activities of the wives of governors in Nigeria under the auspices of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) who have made remarkable impacts in their states. I am aware that they are all in this meeting. I want to appreciate all of you, and encourage you all to be steadfast and maintain the tempo that you have already established in your individual states.
11. Your Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I want to firmly pledge the unalloyed commitment of the Leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to continue to provide all necessary policy directions and platforms to sustain the fight against cancer in Nigeria. We are happy to support our neighboring countries in any area that may be required of us, as we recently did to Cameroon when they adopted the template of the Nigeria Cancer Access Partnership Programme being led by the Ministry.
12. I want to encourage all the stakeholders, especially the non-governmental organizations to continue to partner with the Ministry in the implementation of our plans, programmes and policies to prevent all preventable cancers and to provide prompt treatment to all diagnosed cases while providing all necessary support to ensure that all survivors are adequately reintegrated into society.
13. On this note, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to enjoin all participants to maximize the opportunity provided by this High-level seminar to imbibe new ideas, network and forge collaborations for a better approach to Cancer Awareness and advocacy for early detection.
14. Thank you all for your attention.
