Gbenro Adesina
The University of Ibadan Alumni Association on Saturday March 12, 2022, put together a N2billion Appeal Fund for the establishment of a Cancer Diagnostic Centre at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
Addressing a world press conference on the appeal fund at Dr Michael Omolayole Alumni Complex, the President of the Association worldwide, Professor Elsie Adewoye pointed out that the Association is keying into the global efforts to stem the devastating impact of cancer in the society.
Adewoye stated that cancer is not a disease condition that is peculiar to Nigeria, stressing that it is a worldwide disease with global implications, which requires a synergy of interventions on a global scale.
Emphasising that cancer has emerged as a leading cause of death annually and globally, the don said, “The essence of this world press conference, therefore, is to draw public awareness to the growing incidence of this disease in our clime and also to enlist the support of all public-spirited persons, organisations, institutions, agencies, commissions, churches, etc, to join hands with the association to find an acceptable and realistic solution to this health problem.”
Quoting the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI) and also former Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, the Alumni President noted that in 2020, cancer was responsible for 79,000 deaths in Nigeria, with new cases estimated at 125,000 annually.
“Data available reveal that the five most prevalent cancers in the country are: breast, prostate, cervical, colorectum and lymphoma; out of these, breast and cervical cancers were singled out as being responsible for 32.4 percent of all cancer cases in Nigeria. The pattern of cancer disease in the country shows high mortality and incidence ratio when compared to most of the High Income Countries (HIC), with the ratio of death resulting from breast cancer in America at 19 percent compared to 51 percent in Nigeria”, she revealed.
According to her, “Other notable and critical issues that have been adduced for the growing rise of the illness in the country are the cost implications of treatment, fear to speak out by victims, lack of access to medical facilities, near absence of oncological and diagnostic centres in the country, lack of the study of oncology in our universities and the absence of a clear cut scientific explanation for the causes of cancer.”
She appealed that the initiative of the N2B Cancer Diagnostic Centre deserves the support of all people of goodwill and critical stakeholders in the health sector as well as all and sundry.
She equally called on everyone to rise in solidarity with the Association in raising the required fund for the diagnostic centre, stressing that all donation should be made directly to the association’s dedicated account for the project.
Adewoye gave the account details where donations for the project is to be paid as: First Bank number: 2005481372, account name: University of Ibadan Alumni Association.
Fielding questions from the news men, she clarified that the N2B Appeal Fund is only meant for the purchase of Cancer Diagnostic equipment and treatment, pointing out that the physical building of the centre is currently being constructed by UCH.
In his remark, the Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, the Chief Medical Director of UCH, commended the Association for their timely intervention in executing a project geared towards reducing deaths emanating from cancer.
Otegbayo, who was represented by Professor Adeniyi Adenipekun said that the reason for mortality from cancer patients was due to the patients not seeking medical attention at the early stages of the illness.
He revealed that between 70 and 80 percent of patients usually report in the hospital at the later stage of the illness, when treatment is no longer possible.
Clarifying that the centre would not provide free medical care, he assured that the centre would not be commercialised and UCH in collaboration with Alumni Association would do everything possible to make treatment cheaper.
He said, “The treatment of cancer cannot be free after the completion of the centre and it becomes functional but the cost will be reduced to what is affordable.”
Enlightening the public that the Federal Government of Nigeria has a cancer health fund for the indigents, he pointed out that virtually all Nigerians are indigents as at today, saying that even a professor in Nigeria cannot fund cancer treatment. “Subsidised cancer centre will help Nigerians”, he added.
Commenting on manpower for the centre, Adenipekun assured that adequate arrangement has been made to address this.
He said that UCH has enough experts that can manage the centre, adding that should the centre need additional experts, Nigerians in diaspora have always been of assistance.
“We have manpower. Our colleagues in diaspora are not far from us. They come to assist when needs arise. Even when we are short of experts, specialists come from abroad to assist”, he stated.
