NICRAT Partners Haematologists to Combat Cancers

The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has expressed his readiness to partner with the Nigerian Society for Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NSHBT) to create more awareness on blood cancers in the country.

He stated this when a delegation from NSHBT led by its President-Prof. Dada Korubo, visited him in Abuja.

Prof. Malami reiterated that cancer “is a disease that no single specialist treats,” stressing that: “We need all specialists on board. Once, one has a cancer patient, you need to have the support of haematologists because you will definitely need blood at one point or the other.”

He emphasised that cancer treatment demands multi-disciplinary team approach, assuring that: “NICRAT is forever ready to collaborate with this association to further improve cancer control in Nigeria. We need this partnership to succeed.

“NICRAT is solidly ready to work with you. We are ready to support you in creating more awareness on blood cancers. Kindly involve NICRAT in all your activities so that we can, together, reduce the menace of blood cancers in Nigeria”

Earlier, the President of NSHBT, Prof. Dada Korubo noted that the visit was strategic because, according to her, September is blood cancer awareness month.

She, therefore, advocated for the recognition and inclusion of haematological malignancies within relevant national cancer progammes and policies and the progressive inclusion of selected blood cancers in the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) and other cancer-financing interventions, based on disease burden, curability, clinical impact and feasibility.

Prof. Dada also called for the strengthening of the capture of haematological malignancies within Nigeria’s cancer registry system, working with haematologists and treatment centres nation-wide.

She further appealed for improved access to diagnostics, treatment and supportive care, particularly blood-components support, infection prevention and treatment; the development of national pathways and standards of care for priority blood cancers, adapted to Nigeria’s resources and health-system realities and joint advocacy and public awareness, ensuring that blood cancers receive appropriate visibility within Nigeria’s broader cancer control agenda.