By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) has commenced pilot integration of comprehensive cancer screening programme into Family Planning (FP) services across Primary Healthcare (PHC) centres.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the integration of comprehensive cancer screening into FP services at PHC level will commence in some pilot States across Nigeria.
These States includes Kwara, Ebonyi (South East), Cross River, Kebbi, Adamawa, Kwara and Ebonyi (South-South), which are expected to be model for the rest of the country.
Dr. Yahaya Makanta,the NICRAT Consultant disclosed this on Tuesday in Ilorin while speaking at the Entry Meeting with State Stakeholders on the Integration of Cancer Prevention Services into FP Services in Kwara.
He explained that the pilot programme in Kwara includes engaging stakeholders on introduction of integrated cancer screening services with FP services particularly breast and cervical cancer.
“The essence is to see that these women that present for FP services are also screened for cancer.
“The prevalence of cancer cases in Nigeria is growing and quite significant. But we believe that a lot of women are actually not been screened and that is why we are having this prevalence,” he said.
Makanta explained further that NICRAT wants to leverage on FP service providers to capture and screen women for early detection and treatment of cancer cases in the country at the grass roots level.
Also speaking, Dr Usman Muhammad, the Director Cancer Prevention and Control, NICRAT explained that cancer prevalence in its entirety account for over 127,000 incidents in Nigeria.
Muhammad who was represented by Mrs Deloraine Dennis, the Senior Scientific Officer, NICRAT said over 80,000 deaths are recorded in Nigeria due to cancer.
“Breast cancer is the leading cause of these deaths and out of this 127,000 cases, it accounts for 25.7 percent of these cancer deaths, with prostate cancer in second place, followed by cervical cancer,” he said.
Muhammad explained that NICRAT is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of cancer in Nigeria.
According to him, the Agency ensures all Nigerians are cared for in terms preventive measures, early detection and treatment.
Earlier in her address, the Kwara Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, lamented on the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, saying that this requires innovative solutions to resolve such rise.
El-Imam who was represented by Dr Oluwatosin Fakayode, the Director Public Health of the Ministry stated that solving such health crisis needs awareness campaign and early detection.
He commended NICRAT for supporting Kwara as a participating partner in early cancer detection and treatment.