Nkechinyere Ewa-Opkara
Professor Jesse Uneke, the Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ohaozara Ebonyi State, Saturday said the institution, daily, offers free health care services to an average of six hundred(600) clients from different parts of the country.
The Vice-Chancellor made this known during the official flag-off of the Cancer Centre Complex, DUFUHS, Uburu, in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Community Engagement and Ebonyi state government.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Minister for Works Engr. David Umahi flagged off the ultra-modern Cancer Centre.
Uneke said the beneficiaries of the health service supply the needed patient load for the students.
He explained that the DUFUHS Cancer Centre is a State-of-the-Art Centre of Excellence for Cancer Research, Training and Patient Care.
“The Centre operates with a multi-disciplinary team of experts specializing in conducting research and training on cancer-related issues and caring for people with cancer diseases.
“The Centre conducts and supports research, training, health information dissemination, and other programmes related to the cause, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer, rehabilitation from cancer, and the continuing care of cancer patients and families of cancer patients.
“According to the World Health Organization Global Cancer Observatory(GLOBOCON) Report of 2022, a total of 127,763 new cases of cancer were reported in Nigeria; of this number, 48,096 (37.6℅) were males while 79,667(62.4%) were females.
“The report indicated the number of deaths at 79,542 of which 32,902(41.4%) were males while 46.637 (58.6%) were females. The report added that the top three leading cancers in males in Nigeria ranked by the number of deaths, are Prostrate cancer, Colorectum cancer and Liver cancer, while in females, the top three leading cancer deaths are caused by Breast cancer, Cervix Uteri cancer and Colorectum cancer.
“At DUFUHS Cancer Centre, a total of 207 cancer patients have so far been treated. Of this number, 88 (42.5%) were males, while 119 (57.5%) were females. A total of 107 (51.7%) of the patients were aged between 40 years and 69 years old. The commonest cancers were Breast Cancer 53(25.6%), Prostrate Cancer 43(20.8), Cancer of the cervix 25(12.1%) and Cancer of the head/neck 32(15.5%)”, he said.
Professor Uneke further said that DUFUHS had commenced community outreaches and enlightenment campaigns to enlighten communities concerning how to prevent cancer and the importance of early detection by collaborating with local organizations and community leaders.