Experts speak on cancer management as FUHSA hosts North-Eastern Nigerian universities and Health MDAs and Miami University
Mohammed Kaka Misau
Cancer experts converged on Azare town, on Wednesday 23rd of August, to discuss issues surrounding the management of the disease during a symposium held for North-Eastern Nigerian universities, other health MDAs at the Federal University of Health Sciences Azare (FUHSA), Bauchi State, in collaboration with the University of Miami.
With the theme “Oncology Research and Management in North-Eastern Nigeria”, the event attracted the presence of Associate Professor Sophia George and Professor Matthew from Miami University, United States of America, among others.
Speaking to our correspondent in an interview, Associate Professor Sophia George, who said she is working in collaboration with her colleagues in the North-East and North-West of Nigeria, said they are looking at generating new data, analysing data that exists in the country, and also comparing it with the data available in the US in order to study the drivers of the disease in the two countries.
“In general, we know that the major causes of cancer are the environment, diet, and lifestyle. There are so many components; some cancers are caused by viruses, and a few are caused by bacteria”, she said.
According to her, there are opportunities for prevention and early detection in those cancers that are caused by viruses, like cervical cancer, and bacterial diseases that cause gastric cancer. She said some of the cancers can be prevented by vaccination; while others can be treated with drugs; advising that people should adhere to healthy diets and seek medical advice from health experts.
Sophia George, who commended infrastructural and human development in the Nigerian health sector, said they are into research to help push forward new discoveries.
“There are multiple entities in Nigeria that are doing cancer research, in the south, in Lagos, and in Abuja, and so we are focusing in the North-East now”, she said.
On his part, Professor of gynaecology from Miami University, Matthew, who said he has been in Miami for over seven years, pointed out that he is working with Dr. George to understand what is driving the disease and its outcomes and see how it can be prevented or cured.
“We have done several things; one is that we are working with the International Gynaecology and Cancer Society; we have started fellowship training programmes that will provide expertise to Nigerian doctors on the holistic care for cancer patients.
We are starting with four Obstetrics and Gynaecology doctors for now who will come to the US for their fellowship training programme in gynaecologic oncology. The team will be made up of two doctors each from Zaria and Lagos”, he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the Reconvening Meeting between Northeastern Nigerian Universities, Professor Musa Abubakar Garbati, of the Federal University of Health Sciences Azare (FUHSA), said experts were brought to Azare to discuss collaborations in the area of research, especially on various cancers afflicting our people.
“This team that came from Miami are experts in the field of cancer research and management. So they are collaborating with us to see how they can help us improve our general approach to cancer care and prevention in the region”, Prof. Garbati said.
Our correspondent reports that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Bala Audu, said in his welcoming address that the meeting between Miami University in the U.S. and the North-Eastern Universities and MDAs was a very important development in the Nigerian health sector. He appreciated the presence of Prof. Sophia and Prof. Matthew, who came all the way from America to Azare to explore areas of collaboration through capacity building of gynaecologic oncologists and provision of the needed infrastructure to improve the care of caner patients.
In his response during a courtesy visit, the Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Dr. Umar Farouk, said the people of Katagum are happy for the selection of their newly established university to host this very important international research meeting. The Emir said that in the local language, cancer is known as “Daji”, which has killed many people. He described cancer as a serious illness, especially at the local level, that requires such collaboration to curb its spread. In appreciation, the Emir presented traditional African gifts to Sophia and Matthew on behalf of his emirate and prayed that the visitors have a successful collaboration. Among those who attended the meeting were the Chief Medical Director of Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital, (ABUTH) Zaria and Medical Directors of Federal Medical Centres Azare and Nguru, among others.
