'80 Percent Medical Tourism in Nigeria Linked to Cancerâ€™

Posted on: Thu 03-12-2015

A university don and Professor of Radiation Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, said about eighty per cent of medical tourism in Nigeria is linked to cancer.

Okoye, speaking on the backdrop of the national plan to fight cancer, told THISDAY that unless concrete efforts were made, Nigeria will continue to be disadvantaged, both in healthcare service delivery and cost implication of Nigerians seeking medical services abroad.

She explained that "eighty per cent of Nigerians going abroad for medical attention are cancer patients. The cost of seeking such services overseas is not cost-effective, it requires radiotherapy, which is very costly.

"Government and other stakeholders must invest in surgical intervention, radiotherapy and screening facilities to improve detecting cancer earlier enough and providing treatment," Okoye said.

The professor of radiation medicine stated that when "you add the cost of travelling abroad, the medical bills and other costs, chances are that Nigerians are at a loss.

"We must make the treatment of cancer in Nigeria conducive to treat cancer patients. Nigeria must ensure that cancer treatment is available, accessible and affordable," she stressed.

Okoye, also harped on the need for increased and early screening, experts' care, continuous public awareness on the disease as the best strategy to fight cancer in the country.

She added that environmental pollution, dieting, life style and western culture remain the basic factors leading to the prevalence of cancer in Nigeria.

Okoye who has carried out several researches on the subject debunked claims that cancer has overwhelmed the medical profession globally.

She rather maintained that cancer has "not overwhelmed the medical profession" adding: "the discovery of vaccines for cervical cancer and others have even been extended for people in Nigeria to use."

She urged government and stakeholders in the health sector to increase funding and commitment needed to reduce cancer in the country, as the current approach cannot bring about the desired results to stop cancer.

By: Paul Obi

This Day News

ABUJA: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED PORTHARCOURT: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED LAGOS: Training Schedule for Basic Life Support BLS, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support ACLS, First Aid, CPR, AED