Press Release
Abuja – Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Project PINK BLUE, Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria (NePICiN), Raise Foundation and Abuja Breast Cancer Support Group (ABC-SG) have called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to prioritise cancer patients in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Nigeria. This statement was made public during the gathering of cancer patients and survivors to commemorate World Cancer Day on Saturday, February 6, 2021.
According to Gloria Orji, a Breast Cancer Survivor for nine years and President of the Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria (NePICiN), “The first Nigerian to die of COVID-19 was a cancer patient. Clearly, people living with cancer and other underlying diseases are at greater risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19. For this reason, we are calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria and all the relevant agencies to prioritise cancer patients and people living with underlying conditions in the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. Cancer patients should be on the priority list.
“Presently Nigeria has over 100,000 cancer patients and over 70,000 die every year. We cannot afford to have more cancer deaths due to COVID-19. Cancer patients are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties and children who still have future and aspirations in life. In the United Kingdom, cancer patients are on the priority list 6 and in the United States, cancer patients are priority phase 1c. Same is applicable to many other countries. For this reason, the federal government must protect the cancer patients.
“We also want to remind the government that Nigeria is still lacking in cancer diagnosis and treatment infrastructure. There is no positron emission tomography (PET Scan) and Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH Test) in the entire country. For FISH Test, samples are only collected in Nigeria and sent to South Africa for the diagnosis. Due to absence of reagents for tumour marker and bone scans in Nigeria, it takes one to six months to get these significant tests done in our country. PET Scan, FISH test, Tumour marker and Bone scan are vital diagnostic tests used by cancer doctors to care for we cancer patients and to know if there is spread of cancer in any other part of our body. With the unavailability of these tests in Nigeria, cancer patients cannot get better care, as the doctors will be treating cancer blindly.”
“Without appropriate diagnosis, cancer treatment outcome will be poor,” said Khadijat Banwo-Fatai, breast cancer survivor for 11 years and Board Member, NePICiN & Project PINK BLUE.
“This year’s World Cancer Day is unique, with COVID-19 disrupting cancer treatment. However, COVID-19 has also provided Nigeria the opportunity to know that health is everything. The government should use this opportunity to build a strong and sustainable health care system. Today, there are fewer than 10 cancer clinical trials happening in Nigeria. Many cancer patients in Nigeria are taking cancer medications that are not field-tested with Nigerians and Africans. When a medication is not field-tested with people of a specific community and they are receiving the medications, the chances of poor outcome is high,” said Runcie C.W. Chidebe, Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE.
Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria (NePICiN) is the umbrella organisation for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers. NePICiN hosts monthly support group meeting for cancer patients, survivors and their family.
Contact: Gloria C. Okwu, Programme & Communication Vice President, Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria (NePICiN). abujabcsg@gmail.com
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