Prof. Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti, a Clinical Radiation Oncologist, has said that the fight against cancer requires teamwork.

He said this during the 2nd Lagos University Teaching Hospital International Scientific Workshop and Conference, that all medical hands must be on deck to treat, manage and reduce cancer cases in the country.

The theme of the conference, Advances in Cancer Management in 21st Century, is aimed at sensitising medical practitioners that cancer disease is on the rise all over the world.

Durosinmi-Etti said, “Medical practitioners need to know that when they join hands with colleagues in other areas, patients will benefit more.

“The disease could be handled better and cured if detected early, but those that could not be cured could be managed effectively. So that a patient could have longer and quality life.”

He emphasised that the message from the conference was team effort and not one man business. He advised medical practitioners to use the latest research available and work as a team.

Prof. Olayiwola Giwa, an Orthopedic Surgeon, said that Multi Disciplinary Care in cancer management was one of the advances in the management of the disease in the 21st century.

Giwa said, multi disciplinary care had been known to provide better care and improved prognosis, a situation whereby predictions could be made on the likely or expected development of a disease, including whether the signs and symptoms would improve or worsen or remain stable over time.

The surgeon said, what was being advocated now was teamwork, whereby a general practitioner sees a patient with cancer and refers the patient to a specialist and the specialists work as a team.

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Chief Medical Director, Chris Bode, said Nigeria had the best cancer care in West Africa and even sub-Saharan Africa.

He added that LUTH was not just blowing its trumpet but informing the public that they don’t have to go abroad and spend thousands of dollars for what was obtainable at cheaper prices at home.

He said that in LUTH, patients were being treated by their own compatriots who were enthusiastic about using the most modern technological equipment.

Mrs Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs and Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF), an NGO have called for inclusion of women and girls with disability in menstrual health and hygiene management policies.

They made the call at a training recently organised by TCF in commemoration of the 2022 Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management Day celebration held at Abuja School of the Deaf, Kuje, FCT.

Tallen, represented by Ms Gloria Ekanem of gender unit in the ministry said faced by girls and women with disabilities faced lot of challenges in accessing menstrual health and hygiene management.

The minister said such vulnerable group should be considered in infrastructure designs, policies and provision of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities.

She encouraged other organisations to also support government in providing materials and creating awareness on menstrual health and hygiene to girls and women.

Mrs Tayo Erinle, Executive Director, TCF said the distribution of hygiene kits and sanitary pad to mark the day was part of its Always Keeping Girls in School (AKGIS) project.

Erinle said the one-year project implemented by the organisation was sponsored by Procter and Gamble (P&G) to empower 1,500 girls in 20 FCT schools and 10 schools in Abeokuta.

The National Youth Service Corps NYSC in Ebonyi State,  has embarked on another Free Medical outreach in Onicha local government area of the State.

This was contained in the Address presented by the NYSC State Coordinator, Mrs Mercy Bamai Dawuda. She said, “The Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) is a carefully thought out and well packaged programme by the NYSC, targeted at bringing free medical care to the door steps of the indigent and vulnerable persons in our rural communities, who lack access to proper medical care as at when necessary.

Mr Faleye Abiola, a medical team member, who sensitised the rural dwellers on how to prevent malaria, said the HIRD Program has saved a lot of lives in the State.

The Town Union President of the Community, Mr Isaac Chukwu, also expressed joy over the kind gesture given to them.

Mr Awo Chibueze, a beneficiary, expressed Joy as treatment has commenced on his eyes.

The Coordinator appreciated  the Government and good people of Ebonyi State for their support to the NYSC Scheme and for providing a conducive atmosphere for the Scheme to thrive in the State.

She also thanked the NYSC Medical Team and Staff for making the program a success.

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria has called for immediate implementation of the payment of hazard allowances for workers in hospitals across the country.

The president of the association, Dr. Victor Makanjuola, made the appeal in Abuja. He indicated that the decision to appeal to the government was taken at the MDCAN National Executive Council meeting held recently in Rivers state.

“The NEC advises the Government to be wary of actions that could result in loss of remunerations to the health workers, especially in the face of worsening inflation in the country.

“We call on Government to immediately resolve the issues of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Universities strike, to allow students to return to school.

“State Governments owing our members several months of salaries and other emoluments are enjoined to pay the arrears of what is owed to the medical and dental consultants working in their hospitals and continue payment of their monthly emoluments as and  when due, with particular reference to Abia and Ondo State Governments,” he appealed.

Makanjuola said that government at all levels were enjoined to increase funding for healthcare service delivery, especially at the secondary healthcare level.

He noted that the association also called for the speedy address of the issue of the shortfall in remunerations of its members without further delay, especially that of the Clinical Lecturers.

The MDCAN is a group of medical specialists in different fields of medicine and dentistry. Consultants are those practitioners that have the highest qualifications in medical practices.

Their responsibilities include training medical doctors, offering specialist services to patients and conducting research in medical fields.

MDCAN has membership in government and non government hospitals, tertiary and secondary health facilities across the country.

The Yobe State Government has designated 356 health facilities to enhance the implementation of the Maternal, New born and Child Health programme .

The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Lawan Gana, disclosed this at the inauguration of the 2022 MNCH Week, in Damaturu.

He said, “There are 356 designated health facilities, two per ward, identified to provide high impact MNCH services across the 178 wards of the state.

“These include underserved, nomadic, and hard to reach settlements and communities within the catchment areas of the wards. The MNCH week has been integrated with intensified State Outreach Days (ISODs).

“The main objective is to provide high-impact, cost effective maternal and child survival interventions.”

The Executive Secretary, Yobe Primary Healthcare Management Agency, Dr Babagana Machina, said some nine interventions would be provided under the MNCH week.

He listed the services to include immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, antenatal care, deworming of children, nutrition and screening.

Others are micronutrient powder supplementation, health promotion on key household practices, family planning and birth registration.

He urged the people of the state, especially pregnant women and children to participate in the exercise.

While commending Governor Mai Mala Buni for the execution of viable healthcare development programmes, Machina lauded development organisations for their support, which includes UNICEF, ACF International, World Food Programme, Action Against Hunger, Rescue International, ALBARKA, AHNI and TCDI.