Expert advocates establishment of more cancer screening centres

NAN-HG-1

Cancer

By Maureen Ojinaka-Nwanosike

Enugu, Feb. 20, 2017(NAN) Prof. Chioma Okoye, a Lecturer at College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu has advocated the establishment of more cancer screening centres nationwide for adequate cancer treatment.

Okoye made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday.

She said that there was urgent need for the availability of more radiotherapy units in the country.

The professor noted that out of 12 radiotherapy units in Nigeria, only one at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital,Zaria was functioning.

She also called on government and other healthcare service providers to pay attention to the provision of adequate radiotherapy units to meet the need of the cancer patients.

“We, the healthcare providers, are calling on the government, that as a matter of urgency provide enough radiotherapy facilities for the treatment of cancer in the country.

“Nigeria by all standards, in terms of healthcare, should be having over 300 radiotherapy units across the country,” she said.

The lecturer urged people to live positive lifestyle, eat good food such as fruits and vegetables and observe balance diet to live healthy life and prevent diseases.

Okoye advised smokers to stop the habit, noting that smoking was very dangerous to public health causing cancer of the lungs in young and old people.(NAN)

OJI/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed