Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, has called for timely release and full implementation of the cancer treatment fund, as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2024 World Cancer Day.
He made the call in a statement he personally signed and made available to Ikengaonline.
Senator Chukwu noted that this year’s campaign summons like-minded people to be united to build stronger alliances and new innovative collaborations in the fight against cancer.
Recall that the Federal Government had in 2019 announced plans to roll out a cancer treatment fund as part of efforts to reduce the burden of treating cancer in the country.
Cancer is a disease that occurs when changes happen in a group of normal cells within the body leading to uncontrolled, abnormal growth and forming of lumps called tumours.
Nigeria, as compared to most developing countries, is still lagging behind in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival rates.
This is due to many factors such as late detection, misdiagnosis, lack of medical expertise to treat patients, lack of chemotherapy facilities or radiotherapy machines and high cost of cancer management.
According to the statement, Senator Chukwu appeals to the government, private sectors and other stakeholders to come to the aid of cancer patients to reduce the burden of treatment and improve the lives of its citizens.
World Cancer Day is an international event marked on 4 February every year, to raise awareness of the disease and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
The theme of this year’s commemoration is “Close the Care Gap: Everyone Deserves Access To Cancer Care.”
