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By Chinenye Anuforo
In a groundbreaking move to combat the rising burden of cancer in Nigeria, the Federal Government (FG) has joined forces with global pharmaceutical giant, AstraZeneca, to enhance cancer care across the country. The partnership aims to improve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer through increased access to innovative medicines and capacity building for healthcare professionals.
The Cancer Care Africa (CCA) program, part of the ACT initiative, focuses on four key pillars to transform the cancer care landscape in Nigeria: Enhanced Screening and Diagnostics whereby AstraZeneca will establish partnerships with key hospitals to increase access to molecular testing within Nigeria. The initiative will also explore screening programs for breast, lung, and prostate cancer.
AstraZeneca will collaborate with international partners to provide capacity building programs for Nigerian healthcare professionals, including pathologists and oncologists. Also, AstraZeneca work with patient advocacy groups to raise awareness and educate communities about cancer prevention and treatment options
The company added it will remain steadfast in its commitment to expanding access to innovative cancer treatments and establishing patient support programs to improve affordability for Nigerian patients.
Speaking at the event, Deepak Arora, Country President, African Cluster at AstraZeneca, highlighted the program’s potential: “At AstraZeneca, we are dedicated to collaborating with stakeholders to improve access to innovative cancer treatments throughout Africa. This initiative is a significant milestone, and we are confident it will positively impact the lives of many Nigerians.”
Also speaking, Professor Usman Malami Aliyu, Director General of NICRAT, applauded AstraZeneca for the initiative, describing it as “brilliant and timely.” He expressed NICRAT’s commitment to supporting the initiative and believes it will boost cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment access, and capacity building for Nigerian cancer care professionals.
