By Uche Onyeali
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate has disclosed the federal government’s plan to inaugurate three cancer centres in Katsina, Enugu and Edo States.
Pate, in an X post on Saturday, said the launch of the centres is the largest investment in cancer care ever undertaken by an administration.
The minister said the initiative, which would train up to 500 clinicians in the next three years, is envisaged to serve about 2,000 oncology patients and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually.
“As President Bola Tinubu marks the midpoint of his first term in office, I am honoured to announce the most ambitious investment in cancer care ever undertaken by a Nigerian administration: the establishment of West Africa’s largest network of oncology and diagnostic centres.
“This milestone initiative will train up to 500 clinicians over the next three years and is projected to serve approximately, 2,000 oncology patients and 350,000 diagnostic clients annually,” the minister posted.
He said the centres, which are expected to be launched on May 29, would be located at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka, and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
Pate said the initiative would also allow eligible disadvantaged patients undergoing radiotherapy to receive subsidies of up to N400,000 to ease their financial burden.
“In the coming days, three newly built cancer centers — there would be a total of six — at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nsukka; and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital will be formally commissioned by Mr President and opened for public access—ushering in a new era of specialised care across the country.
“To ensure seamless and sustained operations, key institutional personnel are currently undergoing advanced clinical and technical training in South Africa. Simultaneously, the National Health Insurance Authority has launched a targeted cost-sharing programme to expand access to cancer treatment.
“Guided by the compassionate and reform-driven leadership of President Tinubu, and in full alignment with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, we are dismantling longstanding barriers—both on the supply and demand sides—to ensure that quality and affordable cancer care becomes a national standard, not an exception.”
