People with cancer all over the country might soon feel better as the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to allocate money to create no-cost cancer care centers across the country.
This came after the approval of a motion on a pressing issue about “The Requirement for free cancer treatment in Nigeria,” brought forward by member representing Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency, Kano State, Mr Yusuf Badau.
The legislator talked about the serious impact of cancer and the increasing number of cancer patients in Nigeria, describing the need for urgent action to ease the suffering of those affected by the disease.
He explained, “This disease has caused an unprecedented number of deaths recently due to lack of government assistance in cancer treatment, leading to financial challenges for many affected individuals in covering the cost of the treatment.
“The House knows that most of these affected individuals have low incomes, especially in rural areas where there is little to no funding, awareness about preventing and managing cancer compared to other developed countries.
“The House also recognizes the urgent necessity for the government to establish the legal framework to ensure zero-cost cancer treatment in all teaching hospitals, in order to eliminate or reduce the high death toll from cancer in Nigeria.”
After the motion was approved, the House Committee on Health Services instructed the Federal Ministry of Health to direct all teaching hospitals in the country to “Immediately set up cancer treatment centers and begin providing free treatment to cancer patients in their hospitals.”
The House also directed the Federal Ministry of Finance and Budget Office of the Federation to allocate funds to guarantee the creation of cancer treatment centers and the provision of no-cost cancer treatment in Nigeria.