POSON Appeals For Oncologists Training On Psychosocial Care For Cancer Victims  

Hospitals have been encouraged by the Psycho-Oncology Society of Nigeria (POSON) to invest in oncologists' training in order to provide effective psycho-social care for cancer patients.

The association made the call in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, at the end of its 11th National Scientific Conference and Workshop held in Ibadan.

The statement which was signed by Dr Elizabeth Akin-Odanye, the President of the association, also appealed to hospitals and policymakers in the health sector to provide accessible and affordable psycho-social care services to cancer victims.

It also laid emphasis on the need for public and private health facilities treating cancer patients to create teams that would cater for the psychosocial needs of patients and their caregivers.

The statement also quoted Dr Foluke Sarimiye, the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Foluke Sarimiye as emphasising the importance of psycho-oncology in the effective management of cancer.

According to her, it involves prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life clinical care as well as training and research.

The Chairman, Chief Medical Advisory Committee, Dr Abiodun Adeoye, said that the burden of cancer is increasing daily in Nigeria.