Don seeks policy toward proper cancer diagnosis, therapy

NAN-HG-8
Policy

By Gabriel Agbeja
Abuja, May 25, 2017 (NAN) A don, Prof. Sunday Atawodi, has urged the Federal Government to come up with a policy that will ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the country.

Atawodi, a lecturer in the Faculty of Life Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said, if put place, the policy would save the lives of many Nigerians suffering from cancer.

Cue in audio (Atawodi)

“Government should subsidise the cost of treatment.

“Also, there should be a policy to ensure that there are facilities for diagnosis and therapy for this disease.

“The facilities are grossly inadequate.’’

Cue out audio

According to him, it is estimated that one radio therapy machine is being used to attend to more than one million people.

“So, in a country of about 180 million people, we need at least 180 radio therapy machines, but we only have eight.’’
He stated that out of eight machines only one or two are functional.

Cancer is a large group of diseases characterised by uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in human body.

Most cancers are named after the organ or type of cell they affect. (NAN)
FGA/LAB/YEE

Edited by Lydia Beshel/Emmanuel Yashim

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