Cancer Care: NICRAT Plans Deployment of 35 LINAC Radiotherapy Machines

In an effort to expand national capacity for cancer care in Nigeria, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of plans for deploy 35 additional LINAC radiotherapy machines alongside workforce development and the establishment of a local servicing and maintenance hub.

The Director General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, disclosed this at the 9th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Radiation & Clinical Oncologists of Nigeria (ARCON), in Abuja.

He commended ARCON for the choice of this year’s theme for the conference- “From Access to Excellence: Optimizing Multi-modality Cancer Care”, which according to him, speaks to the efforts of the federal government in the fight against cancer.

According to him:.”Expanding access remains essential, but our goal must be to ensure that every Nigerian with cancer receives timely, coordinated, evidence-based and high-quality care, regardless of geography or socioeconomic circumstances.

“Achieving this requires an integrated approach across diagnostics, surgery, systemic therapy, radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, supportive and palliative care, supported by multidisciplinary teams, effective referral pathways and reliable data.”

He described ARCON as a critical partner, stressing that their “expertise is essential as we strengthen standards, build specialist capacity, advance research and clinical trials, and improve referral networks across the country.”

While commending the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate and the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, for their support, the NICRAT DG reiterated that his Institute remains committed to providing the national coordination and enabling environment required to advance cancer care in Nigeria.