Expert Faults Poor Cancer Care In Nigeria

A US-based medical expert, Dr Olatunji Alese, has berated the poor attention being paid to cancer disease in Nigeria, in spite of its huge economic burden to the country.

Alese, who crticised the level of cancer care during his assessment of MedEnhanz tool in Nigeria, said cancer has become a global health issue that should not be relegated to the background.

MedEnhanz is an online medical information company based in Nigeria and which provides a web-based information and clinical reference tool for medical professionals.

According to Alese, who is an oncologist and assistant professor at Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, the oncology section of MedEnhanz continuing professional development (CPD) activity provides rich information and skills for practitioners.

Alese said:“ Cancer is an important global health issue. Although, the epidemiology and outcomes of different cancers vary worldwide, rising cancer trends constitute an alarming health care burden in both industrialised and emerging economies.

“Unfortunately, the vast majority of cancer cases are in developing countries, 70 per cent of all cancer burdens, but with less than five per cent of healthcare expenditure towards the care of these patients. Furthermore, adolescent and young adult cancers make up the fastest growing group of cancer patients.

“Malignancies that typically present in older people such as colon cancer frequently affect individuals in third and fourth decade of life in Nigeria. In addition, vaccine preventable malignancies such as cervical and liver cancers continue to unnecessarily contribute to significant morbidity and mortality.

“It is, therefore, imperative that medical practitioners, including those practicing in resource limited countries, employ every available resource to maximise the care of their cancer patients.”

To this end, Alese noted that MedEnhanz is a highly effective healthcare information platform, designed to advance medical practice in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries.

The oncologist said:“I truly admire the innovative work of the MedEnhanz team, and the enthusiasm with which they have pursued their mission. Their consumer health solutions are unprecedented and attest to the visionary strategy the team has employed.

“The excellent ability of MedEnhanz to reach and enlighten healthcare practitioners places the platform at the forefront of cancer prevention and control in Nigeria. Cancer is currently not receiving the intensity of attention that is necessary to address its huge socioeconomic burden, and its increasing threat to the Nigerian population.”

Alese explained that medical practitioners and the general populace would find MedEnhanz to be user-friendly, effective and easily accessible.

“The contents are up to date, and of international standards.”