African Cancer Centre: Poised to Stamp out a Continental Scourge
After a decade of introduction, the African Cancer Centre in Lagos, designated to be a world class centre to serve the entire continent on detection, prevention of cancer and research, is about to take off. The board of directors led by its convener, Prof
February 4 of every year is the World Cancer Day. It is a day that unites the world in the fight against cancer. It is a day that aims to save millions of preventable deaths yearly by raising awareness and education about the disease and pressing government and individuals across the world to take action.
Cancer, no doubt has become a leading silent killer in Nigeria. The list of notable Nigerians who have succumbed to the scourge is endless. However, experts insist that early detection and treatment is the cornerstone of cancer control.
Inspite of the daunting challenge of a scourge which has killed notable Nigerians, there are efforts geared at arresting it. Led by its advocate, Prof. Olufemi Williams, the African Cancer Centre situated on 12 acres of land in Okorisan in Epe, Lagos State was established in 2005. It was designed to be the first of such facilities in West Africa.
Prof. Williams even took the advocacy to the Senate where a N400 million seed fund in support of the $45 billion cancer centre project was appropriated in the 2011 budget. But the Ministry of Health allegedly withheld it. According to Williams, it took two years to sign and another two years to get the then Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, to have him sign it. But at the end, it was alleged that Chukwu said because he was not carried along, he would not release the money under his ministry.
The cancer burden in Nigeria is increasing at an alarming rate and several lives of the low as well as the mighty continue to bow out with surprising regularity. Notable among current survivors are the first lady of Lagos State, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and the Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka. Unfortunately the nation has lost gems like Dora Akunyuli, Mike Akhigbe and several other too numerous to mention. While many others with cancer are suffering the anguish of life after arduous and expensive attempts at therapy, the nation still fails to provide succour to the afflicted.
The gestation period of African Cancer Centre is now 10 years and in obstetric parlance that requires urgent surgical intervention. It is hoped that the ACC will benefit from the intervention fund just released by the Central Bank of Nigeria and from other financial institutions. Nigeria should have at least 170 radiotherapy machines (one machine per million) but there are only 4 functional machines and these are overworked.
The urgency of establishing ACC is now to stem the financial hemorrhage of foreign exchange on cancer that has so far produced very poor outcomes. Intensive training of staff including cancer nurses, medical oncologists, physicists and laboratory scientists must commence immediately.
Fortunately there are a few institutions abroad in Europe and North America that are willing to help with human capacity development in oncology. Some philanthropists have indicated their willingness to help once they start operations and efforts are being made to get the Federal Government to release appropriated funds in the approved budget that will go a very long way in the realisation of the ACC.
In an exclusive interview with THISDAY which was attended by the ACC board members in Ikoyi residence of ACC Patron, Pa Akintola Williams, the chairman of ACC, Mr. Adekunle Olumide explained why it took them almost 10 years to get the project started.
“We started by trying to get donations from companies and individuals. We succeeded to a large extent to raise some funds. But this type of project which is capital intensive would require seed money from government. The Lagos State Government was supportive by providing the land and all the approvals were done free. Beyond that Lagos State Government also donated some money. Even the current Governor Fashola donated some of his personal money to show his commitment.
But at the federal level it is not the same level of commitment. The N400 million was reflected in 2011 budget allocated to the African Cancer Centre separate from the allocation of the Ministry of Health.
“But for some reasons the money was not released. In the meantime, we have been trying to see where we can raise funds. We got promises while some people have redeemed their pledges and this has enabled us to start something. We have started the fence which should be completed in another five weeks. We want to go beyond that. And that is why the role of the Federal Government is very important because foreign potential donors would want to see federal government’s commitment,” he said
Besides the State’s commitment, stakeholders had made fantastic contributions to this laudable project. Pa Akintola has given up to N10 million, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, N5 million, Prince Bola Ajibola N1million and notable Nigerians too numerous to mention have redeemed their pledges. Chief Jim Ovia has pledged N100 million (but wants to see the project take off before releasing the money).
Throwing more light on why the project is important to Nigeria and the African continent at large, Olumide said if the gigantic project is completed, the African Cancer Centre is going to be the first class Centre in Africa that will handle detection, treatment, research and training.
“Apart from lack of equipment in Nigeria generally whether radiotherapy and other forms of treatment, Nigeria lacks qualified personnel. In cancer treatment, oncologists are very vital. We currently have them in the Diaspora and not locally. And that is part of advantage the cancer centre will bring to the country. We have an arrangement with the Nigerians in the Diaspora who are prepared to come to assist.
“So the centre will be able to train medical oncologists and nurses and all human capital that will be required which is very vital. Also, we are going to collaborate with other tertiary institutions in the area of cancer treatment. Besides, in terms of size it is going to be the largest in quality and also the best.”
Though there is cancer centre is Ghana
APART FROM LACK OF EQUIPMENT IN NIGERIA GENERALLY WHETHER RADIOTHERAPY AND OTHER FORMS OF TREATMENT, NIGERIA LACKS QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. IN CANCER TREATMENT, ONCOLOGISTS ARE VERY VITAL. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THEM IN THE DIASPORA AND NOT LOCALLY. AND THAT IS PART OF ADVANTAGE THE CANCER CENTRE WILL BRING TO THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE AN ARRANGEMENT WITH THE NIGERIANS IN THE DIASPORA WHO ARE PREPARED TO COME TO ASSIST
and a few other places, efforts are being made to get other African countries involved. “The brochure is written in both English and French. I have been in touch with the French government. Already a representative has been appointed to come to the centre. France is going to bring money to train the Franco-phone of the whole of African sub-region.
“And of course, the other regions have their own cancer centre and we will collaborate with them. The whole idea is to go to the African Union and get an Observer Status and the Union will recognise the African Cancer Centre and then develop a concept of it in the five regions in Africa.”
Corroborating Olumide on why all hands must be on deck for the construction of the project, Prof. Williams said though there are cancer facilities within hospitals like Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) or University College Hospital, Ibadan but the ACC is totally devoted to cancer.
“There is not a single centre devoted entirely to cancer in the whole of black Africa except South Africa. There are three legs to a cancer centre: One is population study or science study which will go into both rural and urban areas, doing prevention and vaccination because there are vaccines now for certain type of cancers such as cervical cancer in women and liver cancer. Then we have clinical science in which we are treating the patients.
“Clinical care involves radiation, chemotherapy and surgery in which a lot of people come to us when it is very late with very large cancers in the late stages. They have to do surgery to reduce the size. The third leg is research and the research is what makes it a cancer centre and that component distinguishes it from just having a facility for treatment in a hospital or in any tertiary institution.
“I happen to know a centre in Lusaka, Zambia which is not a cancer centre as such but a cancer facility. There is another one on Tanzania which is also very good. And most of these people are represented in our board because we want to make it African and not Nigerian centre only. But the centre will be the power house for the whole of Africa where we can train people.
“Nigeria is the only country in Africa that can afford a proper cancer centre. It is the only country in Africa that has over 220 specialists in oncology in both United Kingdom and United States. Nigeria is the only country that the international community will put their money because they know we have the people, the facility and dynamism. And Nigerians have the capacity to interact and collaborate with international organisations.
“If we have the money and approach and give the project to some reputable construction companies, ACC will be ready between 18 to 24 months. But before we do that we have to start training people that will come in because what makes a centre is not just the building but the people and its facility,” he added.
On strategies being put in place for sustainability, Prof. Williams said his vision for sustainability is to have a 320bed guest house next to the centre that will generate enough money.
“The people who are willing to lend us money will not lend a kobo without the collateral that will generate money. We are also hoping that when people see what we are doing money will come in. That is one source of revenue. The second is research. Research is one thing that brings in money and for a cancer research unit I can predict a research grant of over $20 million over a five year period. The third source of revenue is that we are going to be training nurses, technicians for the whole of 36 states, revenue from treatment and endowment funds are other sources of revenue.”
Appealing to the Federal Government to release the N400 million that has been approved since 2011 and other donors to redeem their pledges, Prof. Williams said cancer is a scourge that must be stamped out of the continent.
“One in every three Nigerians will develop cancer before they die at age 80 or more, suggesting that an estimated 60 million Nigerians will die from cancer and yet there is not a single facility devoted to deal with cancer. This is a year of appeal for help which hopefully will not fall on deaf ears. It is our sincere hope that by 2016, construction of the centre will be at an advanced stage and by 2017 the centre will be fully operational.
“The two secret weapons against cancer are prevention and early detection and treatment. Almost half of cancer victims in Nigeria women, about 40 per cent are men and 10 per cent children. We cannot afford to allow this silent killer to run riot in our nation. So let us all put our hands together and wage the war together against cancer. The time is now. Let us act and support this worthy cause,” Williams added.