Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu has inaugurated the State Indigent Cancer Fund, with N30 million naira and commissioned the Oncology Ward and Laboratory Unit at the Kalgo Medical Centre.
At the multi-faceted event on Thursday, the Governor also launched the State Cancer Control Plan, as well as inaugurated the Steering Committee for the State Cancer Control Program, while the State Trained Biomedical Engineers were also awarded Certificates of Graduation.
Speaking on the indigent cancer fund, Governor Bagudu stated that, he was delighted to present N20 million graciously appropriated by the State House of Assembly, in addition to the N10 million already provided.
While noting that, sixty two cancer patients had since benefitted from the fund, Bugudu pledged to provide adequate money to the fund to function effectively, even as he urged the general public to donate generously to it.
The Governor also decried that, cancer was very catastrophic to the patients, and that, it ranks as one of the most formidable public health challenges, globally.
“The significant of that is that, most of the request I received on medical assistance for travelling to other countries, and just a cost of traveling alone is over a million.
“But if this fund, is used to support patients not going abroad, that N10 million will also cater for more patients. I am happy we have commendably supported 62 persons, and I believe this will go along way much much,” he said.
He said that, the Kebbi State Cancer Control Plan was a product of compassion, painstaking work and commitment by his wife, Dr Zainab Bagudu and all the local, national and international stakeholders.
On the Biomedical Engineers, Bagudu said that, they were fully trained and equipped to provide efficient biomedical engineering services to the generality of the people of the state and beyond.
In her remarks, the first lady of Kebbi State, founder of Medicaid Foundation and the Director Union for International Cancer Control Unit (UICC); Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu added that the commissioning of the two facilities will make the fight against cancer in the state, real effortless.
She said’ ” The official launch of Kebbi State Cancer Control Plan indicates the tremendous efforts to advance our collective fight against cancer in the state.
According to her, the state plan, is in-line with the Federal Government’s National Cancer Control Plan, with its well laid out framework, enumerating strategies to improve cancer care.
“In addition, I am pleased to note Kalgo medical Centre has been included by the Federal Ministry of Health to offer chemotherapy access initiative through the CHAI/UNITAID project.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that, the Federal Government has approved the inclusion of the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi and Kebbi Medical Centre as beneficiaries of Cancer Access Partnership (CAP) Programme.
He revealed that, the programme would provide cancer medicines at over 50 per cent reduced costs,adding that, the two hospitals were the first in their categories so far included in the CAP programme.
“It was in recognition of the giant strides of Gov. Atiku Bagudu- led government that I recently approved the inclusion of the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi and the state government – owned Kalgo Medical Centre as beneficiaries of the cancer access partnership (CAP) programme.
“This programme will provide cancer medicines at a reduced cost of 50 per cent . These two hospitals are the first in their categories so far included in the CAP programme,” he said.
Ehanire recalled that, the Ministry had developed a National Cancer Control Plan 2007 – 2013, adding that, the Ministry was currently implementing the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan 2018 – 2022.
” It is worthy to note that, the Ministry had requested all the 36 states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory to establish State Cancer Control Programmes and develop caoncer Control Plans, as far back as 2010, but, only a few states responded,” he said.
He further commended Gov. Bagudu and his Wife, Dr Zainab Shinkafi – Bagudu, for their untiring invaluable efforts in ensuring that, the state became among the very few in the country to develop a Cancer Control Plan, as well as to launch an Indigent Cancer Patients’ Fund.
The Minister was represented at the event by the Medical Director / CEO of Federal Medical Center, Birnin Kebbi, Dr is Aliyu Hamza- Balarabe.
