The Federal Government has concluded plans to partner with a United States-based hospital, St Jude Global, to combat childhood cancer in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this when a delegation from St Jude Global, visited him in his office in Abuja, on Monday.
The visit was in preparation for a two-day workshop organized by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) which is coming up on 30-31, January in Abuja, with the theme: ‘National Stakeholders prioritization workshop for childhood cancer in Nigeria’.
While assuring the team of maximum support to combat childhood cancers in Nigeria, the Minister stressed that the President Bola Tinubu-led government has placed healthcare at the front burner and is determined to improve the health of Nigerians.
He vowed that the Federal Government is ready and committed to partner and collaborate with St. Jude Global to halt the incidences of peadiatric cancers in the country.
The Minister, however, commended the Director General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Aliyu Malami, for what he described as “the excellent work you are doing,” to improve cancer care in the country.
Speaking, the Team lead of the St. Jude Global, Nickhill Bhakta, said that his team was in Nigeria to explore ways of partnership and collaboration in order to tackle paediatric cancers.
He commended the federal government and, in particular, NICRAT, for its efforts in addressing cancers in the country.
He disclosed that his hospital has special interest in peadiatric cancers and that it has been supporting and funding many countries of the world to fight the disease.
Bhakta further revealed that his hospital has special focused on capacity building, implementation of programmes, prevention of infections diseases and research/education.
Earlier, the Director General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Aliyu Malami, commended the Minister for his consistent support and encouragement to the institute.
He explained that the St. Jude team is in Nigeria to explore ways of supporting the federal government improve cancer care, especially, childhood cancer in the country.
Prof. Malami assured of the readiness of NICRAT to partner with St. Jude in the area of capacity building, seminars and implementation of cancer related policies.
