Kano cancer centre and burden of treatment in Nigeria

I was privileged to be part of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s entourage during his official jaunt to Australia to attend the 4th Meeting of the Strong Cities Global Network International Steering Committee Melbourne, which membership consists of 25 Mayors and Governors from across the globe.

It was co-chaired by the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue and hosted by the Victorian Government from July 10-12, 2018.

At the end of the meeting held as part of global effort to counter violent extremism, the governor set out for a pioneering mission aimed at tackling state healthcare services deficiencies.

Ganduje paid a working visit to Peter McCullum Cancer Centre, also known as the Peter McCullum Cancer Institute and commonly abbreviated as Peter Mac, a world class oncology research institute, cancer treatment and professional oncologist training centre located in Melbourne, Victoria.

The visit afforded him the opportunity to appreciate the world-class cancer centre in that country and started discussions in earnest on how to have its replica in Kano that will join the league of the Peter Mac as one of the few cancer treatment facilities in the world, with fully integrated clinical and laboratory programme flanking a hospital.‎

This is in consideration of the fact that cancer is reputed to be one of the world’s deadliest diseases afflicting humanity. Only a very few survive to tell the full story of their anguishes and pains in the hand of the tormenting disease.

Nigeria has the highest prevalence rate of cancer cases in West Africa. Kano being the most populous state in the federation is also having its share, particularly prostate and breast cancers.

And based on the recent statistics released by the World Health Organization (WHO), over 100, 000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer annually and sadly, 80, 000 of these eventually die due to several factors including non-availability of a treatment and management centre.

In the face of this exigency, the government of Kano state began moves to provide solution for the people of Kano having cancer ailments and also to cater for the entire populace nationwide by embarking on the establishment of the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre (KCTC).

The Public-Private Partnership arrangement for the project will take care of its sustainability meant to bridge the infrastructural gaps in the public institutions. More so, Nigeria currently has only nine cancer centres, six of which are said to be not functioning.

The multi-billion naira first state-owned cancer treatment centre will be the best in Africa in terms of size and expertise, and it is even bigger than the Peter Mac we visited in Melbourne.

The centre will cater for the large number of cancer patients in the country who cannot access quality medical care. It is also aimed to increase health coverage, synchronise the need of the rich and the poor by having a basket fund to take care of the less-privileged.


It also tally with the decision of the federal government to introduce the National Cancer Control Plan 2018 – 2022 where states are expected to follow suit in order to address the indices.

The construction project is still ongoing and with the foundation plinths, using unique reinforced technology almost completed, the facility, when accomplished, will marginally reduce death from cancer disease.

The decision by the government of Kano state to place focus on greater investment in the sector to help reduce medical tourism is also worthwhile. Up to 40 per cent of funds spent by Nigerians on medical tourism is attributable to patients seeking treatment for cancer abroad. With this world-class facility, no Nigerian cancer patient needs to travel abroad to receive treatment easily obtainable at home.

The project was awarded to BICO Nigeria Ltd who partnered with TEAM Nigeria Ltd to provide all the designs of the center, that is, architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical and execute all construction activities to completion.

Technimed Technologies limited, a healthcare facilities development consultant, is the lead project manager responsible for ensuring that the design, construction and equipping of the facility meets the international standards for the services it would provide.

The building of the center is designed to house various departments dedicated to the treatment of cancer.

The ground floor consists of the reception area, radiotherapy department, treatment planning area, consultation services, laboratory/diagnostics services and main laboratory; the first floor is housing the chemotherapy department, while the second floor is for administrative offices.

Upon completion, KCTC will provide world-class radiotherapy and chemotherapy services to hundreds of thousands of Nigerian cancer patients.

And when clinical services and operations commence, oncologists are of the opinion that the Kano cancer centre will be truly the best in Sub-Sahara Africa.

Situated in the premises of Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Giginyu in Nassarawa local government, the state government has advertised for expression of interest for the procurement of high-tech Oncology, imaging, emergency and laboratory equipment that consist of two Linear Accelerators LINAC (Halcyon & TrueBeam) and one Brachytherapy machine (Bravos HDR After loader) which are to be housed in a specialized bunker designed to shield for radiation emitted by the devices.

All these equipment are amongst the most advanced in the world used in the treatment of cancer as well as power facilities, hospital and office furniture.

The plan put in place for the operation of the centre will make it the most comprehensive and most affordable cancer treatment centre in the country. With its location within the vicinity of Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, it will be able to also cater for much more patients than the only other two operational centres for such services in the country-the National Hospital, Abuja and the NLCC Oncology and Radiotherapy in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos.

In addition to the main services, the centre will house a full research facility to help train new generation doctors in both cancer treatment and in the practical use of the equipment used in the centre.

It will also have a fully integrated clinical and lab programme flanking a hospital where‎ high-intensity radiation treatment is involved among other specialized infrastructure.

The center will also allow patients get specialised and cheap cancer diagnosis and treatment in line with WHO recommendations and is expected to raise the bar in the quality and standard of cancer treatment in Nigeria with outcomes that would be consistent with the 2030 agenda for sustainable development as well as demonstrate the economic potential of healthcare investments in Nigeria and catalyze increased private sector participation.

While the value of the multi-billion naira project can be valued in currency, one prefer to measure the value in terms of its social impact, the number of lives of Nigerians that will be saved and positively affected as well as the impact of capacity building for our people.

The Ganduje administration promised to effect policies that would remove debilitating constraints on the health sector and create sustainable structures to strengthen healthcare institutions for the benefit of the people.

The ongoing KCTC project is part of the modest but laudable strides it has made in fulfilling that promise, which is also expected to reduce the burden of cancer treatment and create at least 150 jobs for medical and allied professionals.

The passion the governor has for the cancer treatment project informed his frequent visits to remain abreast on the level of progress in its execution. And barring all unforeseen circumstances, the project will be completed in the second quarter of next year.

Garba is the Commissioner for Information, Kano state.

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