Following growing discoveries in the treatment of cancer globally, the Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncologist of Nigeria has decried what it described as dearth of radiotherapy machines in the country, saying only about ten are functional in the entire country of over two hundred million instead of one machine to one million populations.
ARCON General Secretary, Ololade Kehinde, stated this on Monday in Abuja, at a media conference on ‘’Redefining Cancer Care in Nigeria. He lamented that many Nigerians end up travelling between fifty to hundred kilometres or more before they can access cancer treatment due to dearth of facilities.
Ololade also identified expenses of the treatment as a challenge, saying the irregular comprehensive treatment of cancer is maybe between five hundred thousand to a million and half naira.
He, however, called for more investment in the health sector, and inclusion of cancer diagnosis and treatment in National Health Insurance.
In his remarks, the president of ARCON, Dr Amaka Lesebikan, said there are not enough personnel to provide services for cancer patients in the country.
UPLOADED BY: JEMILEYIN TOLULOPE
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