The Nigerian Federal Government has revealed steps it is taking in addressing cancer in the country. By introducing a trio of pivotal policy measures, the government aim to fortify cancer prevention and control efforts.
These vital policy documents encompass: National Strategic Cancer Control Plan 2023-2027; National Strategic Plan for Preventing Uterine Cervical Cancer 2023-2027; and National Cancer Research Agenda 2024-2027.
During a commemorative event for the 2023 International Cancer Week in Abuja, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health, officially launched these documents. Dr. Alausa affirmed the need for immediate action, as he claimed that statistics reveal that cancer has evolved into a growing and critical public health issue in Nigeria, although there is no physical evidence of the said reports, speaking of recorded hospital cases. Neither has there been informal reports of such infection.
It is becoming a concern to Nigerians of late, the sudden switch of the government’s attention from more important matters to rather trivial matters like cancer, as the citizens have declared the the disease is not an issue of public health.