Senate decries absence of comprehensive data on cancer

The Senate Committee on Health, yesterday decried the absence of comprehensive national data to determine the number of people affected by cancer for effective treatment., stressing that the global information available show that cancer disease is rapidly on the increase in Nigeria.

The committee also stated that Nigeria has recorded more than 2 million cases of cancer yearly, stating that between 100, 000 and 500, 000 new cases were being registered every year.

Speaking at a public hearing on the National Centre For Cancer Research and Treatment Bill, 2015, Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso, said it is well known that various forms of cancer disease have been felt more in Africa and Nigeria in particular where resources and awareness are not readily available for prevention, diagnoses and treatment.

According to him, cancer destroys the well-being of a large percentage of our citizens and it is a public health problem that affects all categories of persons, adding that cancer is the third commonest case of death in our nation, and has a huge impact on our national economy.

Tejuoso said: “It indicates that by 2013 more than 2 million registered people were living with cancer and between 100, 000 and 500, 000 new cases were being registered every year.

“This bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the National Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment for in-depth research into cancer and its treatment for the benefit of Nigerians.