The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, yesterday said that with the kind of technological advancements being witnessed globally, there is the hope that cancer, just like HIV, can be managed in the next forty years.

Pate made this known while speaking at the Medserve Oncology 2.0 summit organised by Medserve in partnership with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) with the theme; ‘Enhancing the Oncology Workforce in Nigeria,’ for leading oncologists, healthcare professionals and key stakeholders to discuss advancements in oncology care and treatment in the country.

Pate, who raised concerns that cancer was the fastest growing segment of non-communicable diseases in the country, said the current administration is committed to not only delivering oncological care to those diagnosed, but eradicating cancer from the country Drawing attention to the directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the NSIA about 10 months ago to expand its infrastructure and equip the cancer centres, the minister maintained that the cancer centres are only part of the story as the people, the workforce, research and knowledge that needed to be generated are equally important to the success story.

He said: “With the possibilities in technology that we have seen, it gives me the basis to be extraordinarily hopeful that cancer can be managed in the next forty years like HIV.”

While commending the organisers of the summit, Pate said the summit is timely and in line with the reforms of the present administration. “We are putting together the infrastructure and equipment which form the basis for training. This summit is in line with that to train more.”

Please follow and like us: