Cancer: Experts Speak On High Cost Of Treatment

Medical experts have decried the high cost of cancer treatment in the country.

The experts said this when the First Lady of Kebbi State and founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu visited the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi in Abuja.

Commenting, Prof Saad Ahmed, the Medical Director of the centre said cancer treatment is not cheap anywhere in the world.

Dr Joseph Eziechila, the Head of Clinical Services, who represented Prof. Ahmed appreciated Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu for her kind gesture and humanitarian services.

“Cancer is not something so easy to manage. It’s a difficult disease and it’s not a cheap condition to manage.

"Even in the U.S, even the average person will find it very difficult to pay for the treatment, not to talk of a third-world country like Nigeria and the unfortunate thing is that they (cancer patients) don’t present early. 

“It’s not cheap at all. Many would have used herbal medications or used Moringa leaf for treatment before coming to the hospital.”

Also, Dr Tessy Ahmadu, the head of the oncologist unit, stated that cancer cuts across all age groups and gender.

“Cancer cuts across every age and nobody is immune and we have most of our patients coming late despite the awareness.

“Radiotherapy is not cheap, the cheapest you can have now is at the National Hospital, Abuja and it’s about N750,000.

"So most patients, especially our breast cancer patients when they struggle to get the chemotherapy when it’s time for radiotherapy, we lost them to follow up or when they still come, they say no funds for radiotherapy.”

On her part, Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu said there is hope for cancer patients with more research and the latest development.

“The latest research shows that cancer is reducing in America. For the first time, more patients are being alive after treatment.

"So, it means that it can be done with the right treatment and support. There is much research going on but unfortunately for us in Africa, we do not have the right research.

"Even the drugs we’re using were not tested on us, it’s a very complex issue. I mentioned America to give us hope. We know it can be done. 

“The MCF is to create awareness and make sure there is a better treatment.

"This kind of visit is not really a part of what we are actively doing now, what we are doing is working with the government to make sure that places like FMC Jabi gets the radiotherapy machines they need, and the drugs at a much cheaper and affordable rate,” she said.