By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
Nigeria – The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako has said that one of the major areas where Nigeria lags behind in disease management, including cancer care, is in nuclear medicine services.
Dr. Salako, who stated this while briefing the media to commemorate the 2025 World Cancer Day in Abuja, added that despite developing robust initiatives, including partnering with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the country has lost over half of its trained nuclear medicine physicians due to inadequate infrastructure.
To address this challenge, the Minister approved the reconstitution of the National Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group (NM-TWG), which he inaugurated.
The group, he said, will serve as an advisory body to the Ministry on the development and implementation of nuclear medicine services.
He said, “The NM-TWG, inaugurated as part of the 2025 World Cancer Day commemoration, comprises nuclear medicine physicians, training institutions, regulatory agencies, cancer care organizations, financing and research bodies, civil society groups, equipment manufacturers, and cancer advocates”.
“In consonance with this, the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative which is the blueprint developed to actualize the vision of Mr. President rests on unique 4 pillars including, improving health care governance; improving population health outcomes (with priority on efficient, equitable and quality health system); unlocking healthcare value chain (through various platforms and strategies including sector Wide Approach, local manufacturing of health commodities, research and innovation); and the health security of Nigerians”.
Dr. Salako emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has placed a strong focus on healthcare, with notable investments in cancer prevention, including the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis vaccinations to curb cervical and liver cancers. “Over 12 million girls have been immunized against HPV since the campaign began in 2023″, he noted.
The minister also announced the government’s plan to establish and upgrade six Federal Teaching Hospitals with new radiotherapy and nuclear medicine facilities.
According to him, “Three of these centers are expected to be commissioned in May 2025, with the remaining three set for completion by World Cancer Day 2026”.
“Furthermore, the government is set to implement a Catastrophic Health Insurance scheme under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to support cancer patients. The scheme will be funded through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and other financial mechanisms”. He added.
Dr. Salako urged stakeholders to unite against cancer through early detection and preventive measures.
