The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has hosted cancer experts across the country in Abuja to brainstorm on the causes and remedies of the disease.
Accordingly, the workshop was organized for the Stakeholders also to dwell on Mapping and Engagement Exercise with Initiative aimed at mapping and identifying key stakeholders in Cancer care space in the Territory.
The FCT Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, while
addressing participants at the event, said that FCTA was thrilled to host such gathering of Experts, vast in the knowledge of Cancer coming together to map out transformative initiatives in Abuja.
The Secretary expressed the hope that the result of the forum will impact positively on the lives of thousands of people suffering from the scourge of the disease.
Fasawe said that the workshop is critical to actualizing a Renewed Healthcare System, which is in consonance with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope drive, which the present FCT Administration under the leadership of Barr. Nyesom Wike, is keen to actualize for the overall benefits of the residents of the Territory.
Her words: “Having a functional and accessible Healthcare system in a society remains the bedrock of productivity across all sectors. This workshop is timely, because it will forge new frontiers and inspire connections for transformative discoveries to alleviate setbacks in Cancer care and other subsequent projects that concerns health in FCT”.
The Mandate Secretary noted that in ensuring a coordinated approach to map out transformative initiatives, the project has phases, thus: the inauguration of a City Executive Committee, Needs Assessment, and the Development of Bankable solutions that best suit FCT peculiarities; thereby, closing the gap that exist in Cancer Care in Nigeria in order to catch up with cities like Kumasi (Ghana) Kigali (Rwanda) and Nairobi (Kenya).
Similarly, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who was represented at the occasion by Director General, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment ( NICRAT), Prof. Usman Aliyu, stated that President Bola Tinubu, has issued a directive for the upgrade of the six Cancer Care Centers located in the six geo- political zones of the country, particularly with regards to Radiotherapy Equipments (Cancer Treatment Machinery); stressing that what is done in Abuja will be replicated in other Care centers.
To actualize this, Alausa said that the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to Procure and ensure Maintenance of Radiotherapy Equipments to replicate the best, which is in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital ( LUTH).
This is because Cancer is a significant health challenge affecting millions of people globally, he added.
The consortium partners present at the workshop, which held at Rock View Royale includes; the City Cancer Challenge Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the Medicaid Foundation.
