the Federal Government has announced plans to reduce the country’s cancer burden by 30 per cent by 2030 through a comprehensive national cancer control strategy.
Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this while raising concerns over Nigeria’s growing cancer burden, disclosing that the country accounts for about 10.5 per cent of Africa’s cancer cases and deaths.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Dr Uju Rochas-Anwukah,at the Second African Primary Health Care Forum in Abuja, he said the National Cancer Control Plan is designed to strengthen cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
He highlighted the role of technology in healthcare delivery, saying artificial intelligence had been integrated into the National Cancer Control Plan to enhance cancer services and support clinical decision-making.
Shettima noted that non-communicable diseases such as cancer, hypertension and diabetes were placing increasing pressure on the country’s healthcare system, stressing that primary healthcare facilities must be strengthened to improve the prevention, early detection and management of chronic diseases.
