NICRAT launches pilot programme at Takalau Primary Health Centre to integrate cancer screening into family planning services, with plans to provide treatment equipment and train healthcare workers.
The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, NICRAT, has begun the screening of 200 women on cervical cancer in Kebbi State under its pilot programme in six states across the geo-political zones in the Federation.
This is in furtherance of test-running the ability to integrate basic cancer prevention into the family planning services.
The exercise is ongoing at the Primary Health Centre, Takalau, in Birnin Kebbi metropolis, under the supervision of the Consultant to NICRAT for the Integrated Cervical Cancer Prevention Programme, Dr. Ishaq Lawal.
Dr. Lawal who is a Gynecologist at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Birnin Kebbi, said the best screening method recommended by the World Health Organization, WHO, was being put into use, including NICE-SCAN.
“This is the ‘National Integrated Early Cancer Detection, Screening, Coordinated Access to Network Care’ entailing screening to detect, and treatment to save lives”,
“In addition, there’s capacity building to the facility (hospital) in use and training for the healthcare providers”,
“NICRAT has supplied the equipment for screening and will consolidate on it by supplying the equipment for the treatment of positive cases”,
“The Institute wants to ensure that no woman dies of breast or cervical cancer in our communities from this preventable death”,
“Cancer is not a death sentence if detected early, but can be dangerous and fatal if detected at a later stage or not availing patients to treatment early”,
“Consequently, NICRAT has plan to supply equipment to secondary and tertiary health institutions in the country as well as conduct training for Doctors”,
“Personnel who received training under the ongoing pilot scheme are Nurses, Laboratory Scientists and Staff of the Record Unit, aimed at making sure that all positive cases have access to treatment”, Dr. Lawal explained.
In a remark, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, the representative of the Director-General, NICRAT, Professor Usman Aliyu, said the exercise would integrate basic cancer screening into the family planning services.
“When a woman walks into the family planning, she simultaneously have access to cervical cancer screening”,
“NICRAT is doing its best to reduce the burden of cervical cancer among women”,
“Affliction is not a taboo, rural women are even finding it difficult to open up, and this is hazardous”,
“We have also embarked on strategic mobilisation and education for women to come out for screening and treatment”, Zainab said.
