The Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu and the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka? yesterday regretted the high rate of cancer in the country, saying it was exacerbated by so many years of bad leadership in the country.
The duo, who spoke at the first Annual Lecture of the African Cancer Centre held at the Muson Centre Onikan Lagos, said there was urgent need to tackle the causes of the scourge.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister for Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu said? the Federal Government has concluded plans to construct 10 new cancer care centres across the country as a measure to stem the high rate of the disease in the country.
The minister added that the planned Cancer Care Centres were part of government’s effort to boost the diagnosis and treatment of the disease in the country.
Chukwu who was represented by? Professor Akin Oshinbogun said, “ this is how we can deliver health service to the citizens of the country and this is the way the Federal Government believes that cancer diseases can be reduced drastically in the country”.
The minister explained that the Federal Government cannot tackle cancer disease alone , saying it would require concerted efforts from all stakeholders particularly the private sector to bring the disease under control in Nigeria
In his lecture? tagged “ Cancerous life-style between dogmatism and Fatality” , Soyinka who spoke extensively, blamed past leaders in the country over the high rate of cancer in the country, noting? that the malignant ailment had gained ground over the years and has become a product of the tolerance for corruption, injustice and bad leadership.