By Chioma Obinagwam
Nigeria is in dire need of more Cancer Treatment Centres as available ones are few and often inaccessible by patients.
The Chief Medical Director of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Professor Adetokunbo Fabamwo disclosed to Confiance News in a statement on Friday.
“Our citizens do not know the symptoms and signs of cancers, they do not know that early detection is possible, they do not even know where to go for consultations and treatment.
“This is coupled with the fact that nation wide, cancer treatment centres are few and far between leading to situations where seekers of radiotherapy treatment, for instance, join long queues before accessing treatment. Some of them die while waiting,” he lamented.
Fabamwo, however, urged well meaning high networth Nigerians to partner with teaching hospitals like LASUTH to provide radiotherapy services.
He also pointed the need for increased awareness of the disease to enable early detection.
“In LASUTH, we advocate intensive community engagement in all its ramifications. Regarding cancers in particular, we will urge health authorities and other stakeholders to adequately promote community cancer awareness and screening programmes,” he stated.
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