March 08, (THEWILL) – The Vice Chancellor of David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences Uburu, Ebonyi State, Professor Jesse Uneke, has revealed that the institution provides free healthcare services to an average of 600 Nigerians daily as part of its commitment to addressing the country’s health needs.
Speaking during the official flag-off of the Cancer Centre Complex at DUFUHS, Uburu, Professor Uneke stated that the initiative not only benefits Nigerians but also provides essential clinical exposure for the university’s students.
According to him, the DUFUHS Cancer Centre is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to cancer research, training, and patient care, designed to operate as a Centre of Excellence.
“The Centre is equipped with a multi-disciplinary team of experts conducting research and training on cancer-related issues while also providing care for patients battling the disease,” Uneke said.
He further explained that the Centre supports research, health information dissemination, and various programs aimed at cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and continued care for patients and their families.
Citing the World Health Organization Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) Report of 2022, Uneke highlighted Nigeria’s rising cancer burden.
He noted, “In 2022, Nigeria recorded 127,763 new cancer cases, with 48,096 (37.6%) males and 79,667 (62.4%) females. The number of cancer-related deaths stood at 79,542, comprising 32,902 (41.4%) males and 46,637 (58.6%) females.
“The report also ranked the leading causes of cancer deaths in Nigeria. Among males, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and liver cancer topped the list, while among females, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer were the most prevalent.”
On the university’s efforts in cancer care, Uneke disclosed that the DUFUHS Cancer Centre has treated 207 cancer patients to date.
“Of these, 88 (42.5%) were males, while 119 (57.5%) were females. The majority of patients—107 (51.7%)—were aged between 40 and 69 years. The most common cases treated include breast cancer (53 cases, 25.6%), prostate cancer (43 cases, 20.8%), cervical cancer (25 cases, 12.1%), and head/neck cancer (32 cases, 15.5%),” he stated.
In addition to treatment, the DUFUHS Cancer Centre has initiated community outreach and awareness campaigns to educate the public on cancer prevention and the importance of early detection.
The university is also collaborating with local organizations and community leaders to strengthen cancer awareness efforts.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
