President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the ultra-modern cancer centre at the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
Mr Tinubu inaugurated the centre on Saturday at the university complex and described it as one of the best cancer centres in Nigeria.
The president, represented by David Umahi, Minister of Works and the immediate past governor of Ebonyi, donated 2,000 kilowatts of regular power supply to the institution.
Mr Tinubu said his administration would continue supporting the university in achieving its vision of being a centre of excellence in medical and health sciences to eliminate medical tourism in Nigeria.
“This institution without regular power is no institution; we will ensure that more lands are acquired to accommodate the structure,” the president said.
Earlier, Jesse Uneke, DUFUHS’ vice-chancellor, in his address of welcome, thanked the president for his commitment to infrastructure development in the university.
The VC said the centre was operating with a multi-disciplinary team of experts specialising in conducting research and training on cancer-related issues and caring for people with the disease.
He said a 2022 report from the World Health Organisation Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCON) showed 127,763 new cancer cases were reported in Nigeria.
Mr Uneke explained that out of the number, 48,096, representing 37.6 per cent, were males, while 76,667, representing 62.4 per cent, were females.
The VC further said the report indicated that the number of cancer-related deaths stood at 79,542, of which 33,905, representing 41.4 per cent, were males while 46,637, representing 58.6 per cent, were females.
“The top three leading cancers in males in Nigeria ranked by the number of deaths are prostate cancer, colorectum and liver cancer while in females, top three leading cancer deaths are caused by breast cancer, cervix uterus and colorectum cancer,” he added.
He said 207 cancer patients had been treated at the centre, adding that 88 patients were male cancer patients while 119 were female cancer patients.
“A total of 107 patients are between 40 and 69 years old. The commonest cancers are breast cancer, cancer of the cervix and cancer of the head/neck,” the VC added.