Nigerian Oncologists demand new technology in cancer fight

Nigerian oncologists have called for new and expanded access in cancer treatment in the country.

This is as the world continues to seek new knowledge in the golden age in oncology practice.

The new technological application includes cryo- electron microscopy, robotic surgery and telemedicine.

The health professionals who converged in abuja in a meeting organised by Nigeria’s leading supplier of medical hospital equipment and surgical units, Stepcho Nigeria Ltd, on the theme: “Bridging the gap in cancer care”, the oncologists charged state governments and private sector players to support current effort in the treatment of cancer by providing modern equipment at an affordable cost.

The meeting was organised in collaboration with the federal ministry of health, to help expose Nigeria’s oncologists and heads of federal medical centers, to the new linear accelerator which is being introduced to Nigeria to help move cancer treatment closer to the patients.

Representatives of Bebic, the manufacturers of the linear accelerator- Hamidi Medina and Muhammad Reza who spoke on the new innovation, assured that over 150,000 of such machines have been installed world wide and that there would be a local team on ground to help with after sales care and maintenance.

According to them, “It is a digitised dual-photon medical linear accelerator used for high accuracy image guided radio therapy platform. It has two X-rays and multi electron rays which can treat deep seated tumor. It adopts modular real time control technology and can be equipped precise couch.”

A former Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole and other oncologists and heads of federal medical centers in Nigeria who spoke at the event said the machine can best be described as an innovation that will provide access and timely care to patients. 

They also commended the effort by Stepcho Nigeria limited, at providing a state-of-the-art linear accelerator that will help revolutionise the treatment of cancer in Nigeria.

The former health minister who was reputed to have helped in the fight against cancer during his time by equipping federal medical centres in the country, also noted that the theme of the conference was apt as it tallies with the effort of the company. 

Others who spoke at the event included acting director hospital services department Dr. B. O. Alonge and national cancer coordinator at the federal ministry of health Dr Okpikpi Okpako. 

The speakers described the collaboration between Bibec and stepcho as a commendable effort as both are big players in the fight against cancer.

They believe that this would make the market more competitive and answer to the call for more private sector players to come into the cancer space.

Chief medical director of the ABU teaching hospital Professor Hamidu Ahmed also commended the organisers for giving practitioners and stakeholders in cancer care a new beginning and access to the machine directly as well as access to after sales services, spare parts and maintenance.