
14/10/2022
RADIOGRAPHERS REGISTRATION BOARD OF NIGERIA HOLDS CANCER AWARENESS SUMMIT 2022 IN ABUJA.
The Summit which was formally declared open by the Hon Minister of State for Health, Hon. Ekumankama Joseph Nkama,stated and charged the Board especially the professional bodies of RRBN, based on the Theme of the Summit; Reducing The Scourge Of Cancer in Nigeria Through Early Detection and Treatment: The Role of Radiographers.
The Minister equally commended the Registrar and the entire team for their Proactiveness and steadfastness towards the activation of lasting solution of Zero Cancer Society.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive/ Registrar, Prof Mark Okeji while addressing the press,advocates for more partnerships from all stakeholders across Board to spring up awareness on the need to significantly educate the General Public that this deadly disease"Cancer" can be averted if early detected and treated.Prof. Mark Okeji,said that according to the Global Cancer Observatory, Nigeria has one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the world with approximately four out of five cases resulting to death.
Okeji said that the risk factors may not automatically precipitate it nor may increase its severity when present.
He said that examples of some of the risk factors include old age, family history of cancer, to***co smoking, obesity, excessive alcoholic intake among others.
“We know of the national Cancer Centre in Abuja, the various cancer registries across the country and many other interventions from private and NGOs cares for cancer patients.
“Their impacts are like a little drop of water in the ocean, yet to be felt by cancer patients because every cancer patient in Nigeria pays out of pocket,’’ Okeji said.
Okeji explained that the board, in the past four years, had embarked on conscious effort to increase the number of training departments in the universities of which efforts were currently yielding huge result.
He said the summit was to bring together policy makers, stakeholders in cancer management in hospitals, regulators whose duties were to check quackery in order to reduce some of the risk factors. He said Cancer is curable if patients come early for diagnosis" Prof Mark seek the cooperation of the press to help spread the news down to the grassroots.
Also spoke at the Summit was The Vice President (1)of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN), Mrs Ifeoma Chisom Ikete who expatiate on their heavy involvement as the first point of call to all Cancer patients for all sort of Radiological investigations. She said ARN are in collaboration with (IAEA) to ensure adequate funding is made available for the treatment of the Cancer in Nigeria.
However, Mrs Oluwafemi Osungbesan,who is the President, Association Radiotherapist of Nigeria and Deputy Director of Radiography said it's saddening to know that in a country of over two hundred Millions population,only forty Trained Certified Licensed Radiotherapists are in Nigeria. She pleaded to the Government to release more funds into the system to enable and encourage more professionals in the field.
Reported by: TNNTV NEWS ABUJA.