The Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, NICRAT, Dr. Usman Aliyu has revealed that it has developed a new cancer plan that includes provisions for the welfare of cancer survivors.
Dr. Usman Aliyu, who disclosed this in an interview with NAN, on Saturday, 21st October 2023, emphasized the inclusion of survivorship support, an aspect previously neglected.
We have drafted our second National Strategic Cancer Control Plan. The first one ever drafted for the country was for 2018–2022, which has expired, but I’m happy to announce that the institute has drafted a new cancer plan.
Dr Usman Aliyu – The Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, NICRAT
It is a five-year plan that will span from 2023 to 2027, and that is all-encompassing. The plan will be a leading guide to all the activities of cancer in the country, and it cuts across the areas of cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, and even survivorship for the first time. We are having this component of cancer survivorship in our plan for survivors, which is a neglected area.”
The plan covers various areas, such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, and research. Additionally, collaboration with the World Health Organization has resulted in the formulation of the country’s inaugural National Cervical Cancer Control plan, aiming to align with the WHO’s goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030.
Furthermore, the institute has drafted the first National Cancer Research Agenda 2024-2028 to direct cancer research efforts in Nigeria.
These initiatives will be launched during the 2023 International Cancer Week, scheduled for Oct. 23–26 in Abuja, focusing on addressing disparities in cancer care through enhanced research and treatment accessibility.
Story: Christy Dung