Tinubu Flags Off DUFUHS Cancer Centre in Ebonyi
President Bola Tinubu has officially inaugurated the Cancer Screening Centre at the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
The President, represented by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, emphasized the importance of the centre in addressing the issue of medical tourism, which often leads Nigerians abroad for cancer treatment. He urged the university’s management to ensure the enhancement of cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for Nigerians.
Umahi praised the hospital’s management for offering free dialysis services and expressed confidence that the cancer centre would restore hope and build confidence in the Nigerian healthcare system. He also acknowledged President Tinubu for donating 2000 kilowatts of solar power to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit of the hospital, noting that this MRI facility is the only one in the South-East region. Umahi encouraged Nigerians to visit the hospital for their healthcare needs.
In her speech, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), Mrs. Chioma Nweze, highlighted the launch of the cancer centre as a vital intervention aimed at providing free medical services to the South-East, particularly to those who cannot afford healthcare. She reiterated that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental human right, and the Tinubu administration is committed to ensuring that every individual in the region receives it.
Mrs. Nweze also spoke about the Medical Outreach Initiative, a comprehensive program that will offer free services such as cancer screening for six months, free eye screening, medical glasses for the first 200 patients, and one year of dialysis treatment. She emphasized that the services would be delivered by highly trained medical professionals using state-of-the-art equipment.
“We believe that every life is precious, and every individual deserves access to quality healthcare,” Mrs. Nweze said. “By working together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our people and create a healthier, more prosperous future.”
The Vice-Chancellor of DUFUHS, Prof. Jessy Uneke, provided details on the operation of the cancer centre, explaining that it will use advanced diagnostic technologies, including blood chemistry tests, complete blood counts (CBC), and cytogenetic analysis. He cited the 2022 World Health Organization’s Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) report, which showed that in Nigeria, 127,763 new cancer cases were reported, with 48,096 (37.6%) of them in males and 79,667 (62.4%) in females. The report also indicated that cancer-related deaths in Nigeria numbered 79,542, with the majority of deaths being female.
Prof. Uneke also shared that 207 cancer patients have already been treated at the DUFUHS Cancer Centre, with 42.5% of the patients being male and 57.5% female. He added that over 50% of the patients were between the ages of 40 and 69 years.
This landmark initiative is seen as a major step towards improving cancer care and treatment in Nigeria, especially in the South-East region.
