NICRAT Upgrades Chemotherapy Suites in Six Geopolitical Zones

As part of efforts to implement the Chemosafe Policy, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), has concluded arrangements to upgrade one chemotherapy suite in each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

The Institute has also planned to provide solar-powered refrigerators and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and support capacity building initiatives for chemotherapy administration in the selected centres.

The Director General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, disclosed this while declaring open the stakeholders’ meeting of the Nigerian Cancer Access Partnership (NCAP) in Abuja, on Tuesday, June 16.

NCAP is a strategic public-private collaboration with the aim of significantly reducing the cost of cancer treatment, preventing drug stock-outs, and decentralizing oncology care.

The NCAP also expands access to high-quality life-saving medications such as subsidized chemotherapies and targeted immunotherapies for indigent and low-income cancer patients in the country.

The NCAP programme, Prof. Malami noted, is a critical vehicle for achieving the mandate of the Institute, which according to him, includes strengthening cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, research, and palliative care through coordinated and evidence-based interventions.

Represented by the Director, Clinical Services, Prof. Musa Ali-Gombe, the NICRAT Director General emphasized that: “No single institution can address the cancer burden alone. Success requires strong partnerships that bring together government, healthcare providers, development partners, the pharmaceutical industry, and other critical players.

“NCAP provides the platform through which these stakeholders can align efforts, leverage resources, and develop sustainable solutions that improve access to quality cancer services.

“As we gather today, our focus must remain on the patient. We must work collectively to reduce barriers to cancer treatment, expand access to essential cancer medicines and technologies, and ensure that no Nigerian is denied care because of geography, socio-economic status, or other inequities.”

He charged partners at the meeting to “engage openly and constructively, identify practical opportunities for collaboration, define clear priorities and develop actionable strategies that will accelerate progress toward equitable access to cancer care across Nigeria”

On the effort of NICRAT to improve the programme, Prof. Malami said: “We have continued to strengthen the NCAP program by expanding its network from 18 to 24 centers.

“Mechanisms have been developed to reduce medication stock-outs, and EMGE Resources have been engaged to ensure seamless navigation of the platform. Additional features have also been introduced, alongside the timely resolution of technical issues and system glitches.”

The engagement provided the avenue for partners to share ideas, progress, challenges, achievements, gaps and feedback that will shape the fight against cancer in Nigeria.

All partners at the meeting agreed that there are myriads of challenges bedeviling the NCAP program, especially, in the area of funding which needs to be improved.

They collectively appealed to NICRAT to fashion out ingenious ways of resolving the funding challenge through constant follow-up with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to enable the program to make meaningful progress for the good of all Nigerians.

Partners that attended the engagement include Worldwide healthcare (WWCV), Roche, Assene Laborex , L’ pacemaker, OPPAN, NAFDAC, MSD, Healthshare, Emge resources, CHAI, DP world and members of the academia.