The president approval in setting up these centres across the nation is a welcome development and it will go along way in improving the healthcare service delivery which can be viewed as the path towards achieving the renewed hope.
The following institutions marked for the establishment of oncology and nuclear medicine centres include:
(1) University of Benin Teaching Hospital
(2) Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital
(3) University of Nigeria (Nsukka) Teaching Hospital
(4) Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina
(5) University of Jos Teaching Hospital
(6) Lagos University Teaching Hospital.”
In addition, within same approval, other institutions are to benefit from the expansion projects in the area of radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology, and cardiac catheterization. This include as follows:
(1) North-West: Reference Hospital, Kaduna — (Radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology)
(2) South-East: Medical Diagnostic Centre Complex, Enugu — (Radiology, clinical pathology, medical & radiation oncology)
(3) North-West: Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto — (Diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterisation)
(4) South-West: University College Hospital, Ibadan — (Diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterization)
(5) South-South: University of Uyo Teaching Hospital — (Radiology and clinical pathology)
(6) North-East: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi — (Radiology and clinical pathology)
(7) South-South: Federal Medical Centre, Asaba — (Radiology and clinical pathology)
(8) North-Central: Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex, Ilorin — (Radiology and clinical pathology)
(9) North-Central: Jos University Teaching Hospital — (Radiology and clinical pathology)
(10) North-East: Federal Medical Centre, Nguru — (Radiology and clinical pathology).
The exclusion of University of Maiduguri from this critical project is worrisome owing to the fact that it has served a citadel of knowledge in this field and has trained specialist this fields. The institution has significantly served as a point of call to a lot of cancer cases across the country (Kano, Yobe, Bauchi etc) and has performed well. As currently, I have 2 cases of it from other states which they are currently receiving treatment at UMTH. More so, on need basis in only Maiduguri MMC according to the Maiduguri Cancer Registry (2016) recorded about 262 cancer cases in a year and this has been on the increase owing to the influx of patients from other states. One fact remains that that the UMTH has done well in this aspect. Therefore, it’s inclusion of it would go along boast their performance.
However, the inclusion of ATBU teaching hospital is a benefactor of the Minister owing to the fact that the minister home town. But the question is what has been the cases of Cancer Bauchi and its environs? Consequently, need basis, relevance and other key factors needs to be considered in the future when selecting such an important project so that the benefit of it can be realised to an optimal level.
Hence forth, synergy between key or principal officers in the Health sector is cogent in marking out institutions to benefit from such a strategic projects.
Thank you
Hon. Yusuf Adamu
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