The house of representatives has asked the federal government to subsidise cancer medications and treatments.
The house also called on the government to provide free cancer screening and increase the number of treatment centres and radiotherapy machines nationwide.
The lower legislative chamber passed the resolution during plenary on Wednesday following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Aderemi Oseni, a lawmaker from Oyo state.
In February, Tedros Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said at least 40 people are diagnosed with cancer globally every minute.
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Moving the motion, Oseni said it is government’s responsibility to ensure the welfare and well-being of citizens.
He said cancer is a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with many patients unable to afford treatment due to the high cost.
“The scourge of cancer is fast spreading amongst Nigerians, with reports revealing that in 2020, about 125,000 people were diagnosed with cancer,” he said.
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The legislator said the most common types of cancer are breast, prostate and cervical cancer.
“Costs of cancer treatment vary from tens of millions of naira to hundreds of thousands of dollars per year, depending on the type of cancer, stage of the disease, treatment methods, location, and individual health history,” he said.
He said cancer patients are facing financial difficulties due to the complex and expensive supply chain for cancer medications and limited availability of radiation therapy machines, leaving some with the view that cancer is an illness for the wealthy or a death sentence.
“But that is no longer the case as both the poor and the rich are caught by the menace in most cases,” he said.
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“The rising burden of cancer is causing a shortage of funding for cancer control services, with public financing being considered the most appropriate, sustainable and equitable solution to fund that aspect of health care to ameliorate the suffering of patients with cancer.”
The lawmaker added that the government must intervene urgently by subsidising cancer treatment and drugs for indigent patients in Nigeria.
The motion was adopted when it was put to a voice vote by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house.
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