Health care
Cancer Is Not Always Death Sentence: Oncologist
Cancer Is Not Always Death Sentence: Oncologist
Cancer is not always death sentence: oncologist. “Cancer is not always a death sentence; early detection saves lives,” an oncologist at UCH said.
An oncologist, Adebayo Oladeji, on Wednesday underscored the urgent need to strengthen nationwide cancer screening to enhance early detection and management.
Mr Oladeji, a consultant radiation and clinical oncologist at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, made this known following the commemoration of World Cancer Day.
According to him, early detection of the disease through screening could save an individual.
“Cancer is not always a death sentence; early detection saves lives,” he said.
World Cancer Day is a global awareness day organised by the Union for International Cancer Control on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
Mr Oladeji harped on the need for Nigeria to expand decentralised cancer care, invest in radiotherapy, pathology, and diagnostic services, and integrate palliative care at all levels to reduce financial barriers through improved insurance coverage and public funding.
According to him, collective action today will lead to fewer late-stage diagnoses, better survival outcomes and reduced suffering, adding that cancer incidence in Nigeria is steadily rising in both adults and children.
Mr Oladeji noted that this increase is driven by population growth, increasing life expectancy, lifestyle changes, environmental exposures, and improving diagnostic capacity.
He expressed concern that most patients present themselves late and often with advanced disease, which he said significantly reduces chances of survival and increases the cost and complexity of care.
Mr Oladeji said that the Federal Ministry of Health established the National Cancer Control Programme and is upgrading oncology services in selected federal teaching hospitals across the geopolitical zones, including UCH, Ibadan.
He added that initiatives such as the Cancer Access Partnership and Cancer Health Fund are improving access to chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and selected targeted treatments.
“UCH is one of Nigeria’s leading centres of excellence for cancer care, with a full multidisciplinary team covering the entire cancer care pathway, from screening and diagnosis to treatment and follow-up.
This includes pathologists, radiologists, surgical oncologists, gynaecologic oncologists, haematologist-oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation and clinical oncologists, and psycho-oncologists.
“UCH is the first and currently the only centre in West Africa offering High-Dose-Rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer, a highly specialised form of radiotherapy. Despite these strengths, significant gaps remain, particularly in radiotherapy equipment availability and capacity.
“While progress has been made, facilities and resources remain insufficient to meet the growing cancer burden; many Nigerians still travel long distances or experience long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
According to him, although the government plans to leverage the six cancer centres to expand screening across all geopolitical zones, routine screening access remains limited for many Nigerians.
While expressing concerns that cancer care is still largely funded out-of-pocket by patients, he noted that late diagnosis, combined with inequitable access to affordable, quality cancer care, also posed a challenge.

Cancer Is Not Always Death Sentence
“Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan recognises palliative care as a core pillar, but implementation has been suboptimal, with services concentrated mainly in tertiary centres. Ongoing advocacy continues for the integration of palliative care at all levels of the health system, from primary to tertiary care,” he said.
Meanwhile, he noted that cancer risk could be significantly reduced through evidence-based measures like avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Among others, he also advised people to engage in regular physical activity, HPV vaccination and safe sexual practices for cervical cancer prevention.
“People should always participate in age-appropriate cancer screening (breast, cervical, prostate) and avoid excessive sun exposure, particularly among people with albinism, and limit exposure to known carcinogens,” he said.
Abuja
FCTA Confirms Antivenom Stock, Warns Negligent Hospitals, Gives Emergency Lines
FCTA Confirms Antivenom Stock, Warns Negligent Hospitals, Gives Emergency Lines
FCTA confirms antivenom stock, warns negligent hospitals, gives emergency lines. The FCTA said all public hFCTA confirms antivenom stock, warns negligent hospitals, gives emergency linesospitals have sufficient antivenom after singer Ifunanya Nwangene’s death at FMC Jabi. Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe warned facilities to follow protocols or face sanctions, stressing that early treatment is critical.

FCTA
The territory has added 12 ambulances, improved ICUs, and centralized antivenom storage.
Residents are urged to use emergency lines 090157892931 or 090157892932.
Economy
NARD: Resident Doctors Give FG Four Weeks To Meet Demands
NARD: Resident Doctors Give FG Four Weeks To Meet Demands
NARD: Resident doctors give FG four weeks to meet demands. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the federal government to fully implement outstanding agreements on salaries, allowances and welfare.
The decision was taken at the end of the association’s national executive council (NEC) meeting and scientific conference, held from January 25 to 29, 2026, in Jos, Plateau state.
In a communiqué signed by Mohammad Suleiman, NARD president, the association expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other key stakeholders for their roles in ongoing engagements.
The NEC acknowledged the reinstatement of disengaged doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and commended the intervention of the ministry of labour and employment and the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS) on the outstanding 25 and 35 percent consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS) and accoutrement allowance arrears.
NARD also noted that promotion and salary arrears had been forwarded to relevant authorities, with assurances from the minister of finance that payments would be expedited.
However, the association expressed concern over delays in circulating the directive affirming CONMESS 3 as the approved entry level for medical doctors.
It also decried the non-payment of the professional allowance provided for in the 2026 Appropriation Act and persistent salary arrears across several health institutions.
The association warned of worsening industrial relations at the Benue state University Teaching Hospital and demanded urgent action, alongside calls for improved welfare, timely release of training funds and renewed investment in health infrastructure nationwide.
“The NEC demands the expeditious clearance of the outstanding 25%/35% CONMESS arrears and accoutrement allowance arrears within the assured two weeks, as committed by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), following the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,” the communique reads.

Doctors
“The NEC demands the prompt payment of all promotion arrears already forwarded to the appropriate authorities, in line with the assurances of the Honourable Minister of Finance for payment within the next four (4) weeks.
“The NEC demands the expedited payment of all outstanding salary arrears owed to specific centres, which have been duly forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Finance for processing, within the assured four (4) week timeline.
“After exhaustive deliberations and in recognition of the progress made by the Federal Government towards addressing the legitimate demands of Nigerian resident doctors, the NEC has resolved to extend the suspension of the Total Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS) for a further period of four (4) weeks as a further goodwill gesture, to allow for the full implementation of the Association’s demands.”
The association had earlier suspended its plan to commence another strike on January 12.
The doctors said this was done after firm commitments from critical stakeholders following Shettima’s intervention.
Economy
Ododo Government Unveils Construction Of Model Veterinary Hospital
Ododo Government Unveils Construction Of Model Veterinary Hospital
Ododo government unveils construction of model veterinary hospital. Kogi’s commissioner for livestock development, Olufemi Bolarin, handed over the site to the contractor in Osara, Adavi.
The Kogi government has advanced the construction of a model veterinary hospital, a flagship project under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support project.
The facility, to be built at the Cattle Value Cluster Osara, Adavi LGA, aims to strengthen animal health systems, improve livestock productivity, and enhance food safety and security.
Kogi’s commissioner for livestock development, Olufemi Bolarin, handed over the site to the contractor in Osara, Adavi.
Mr Bolarin described the project as a strategic investment in improved animal health service delivery, disease prevention, and control to improve livestock productivity in Kogi.
He noted that the project would revolutionise the state’s livestock sector by providing modern veterinary services, enhancing disease surveillance, and promoting the One Health approach.
He thanked the federal government, the World Bank, and the national L-PRES office for their support, saying the project aligns with the state’s developmental agenda and livestock transformation roadmap.
Mr Bolarin praised Governor Ahmed Ododo for his visionary leadership to transform the livestock sector into a modern, productive and resilient contributor to food security, public health and economic development.

Ahmed Ododo
The commissioner urged contractors to comply with approved designs, timelines, and quality specifications.
The project coordinator, Abdulkabir Otaru, said the hospital would address challenges faced by livestock farmers, including limited access to quality veterinary services and inadequate disease surveillance.
Mr Otaru emphasised that the facility will provide modern veterinary clinical services, disease diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance, and support improved animal disease surveillance and response capacity.
He commended the governor for creating an enabling environment for the project and for promptly paying the State counterpart funding for the implementation of the L-PRES project in Kogi.
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