The Federal Government has disclosed that it has partnered with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to reduce the cost of treating cancer in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
The National Coordinator of the Cancer Control Programme, Federal Ministry of Health, Uche Nwokwu, made this known while speaking at the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association Cancer Awareness Summit in commemoration of 2024 World Cancer Day.
He noted that the government, in a bid to make cancer treatment affordable for patients, partnered with NGOs to reduce the cost of chemotherapies, which are otherwise very expensive.
Nwokwu further disclosed that efforts were ongoing to include cancer treatment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
He noted that one of the major things cancer affects is the finances of the affected families and communities, adding that cancer has the capability of impoverishing anybody.
He maintained that nobody has the capacity on their own to afford cancer care anywhere in the world, not just in Nigeria, and this has driven the government to include it in health insurance, which is one of the major areas where people can afford to assess the care and pay for it.
Nwokwu also stated that about 2,445 patients have registered and over 750 have been funded, noting that the fund provides treatment for surgery, chemotherapy, and therapy, and its centre is at the National Hospital.
According to him, they have been mandated by the minister to go across the country.
“This is to ensure adequate and affordable healthcare services for citizens diagnosed with cancer,” he said.
