MHR, Odebunmi Bunvic Moves Motion to Investigate Delay in National Cancer Control Plan’s Implementation

MHR, Odebunmi Bunvic Moves Motion to Investigate Delay in National Cancer Control Plan’s Implementation.

The House of Representatives is to investigate the failure of the implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan.

This is sequel to a motion sponsored by the Chairman House Committee on Information National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Honourable Olusegun Odebunmi “Bunvic”, from Oyo state at plenary.

While leading the debate, the Federal Lawamker, Bunvic noted that despite reforms and policies of President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, there has been an increase in the number of cancer cases in the country with high mortality rate.

According to him,”Despite the high rate of new cancer cases, there are only four functional Cancer Treatment Centres, out of the eight treatment centres in the Country.

Odebunmi stressed the need for the federal govermmet to implement the plan to enable Nigerians have access to cancer specialists, for proper diagnosis and adequate treatment.

Adopting the motion, the House also mandated its committees on health care services and health institutions to ascertain the status of all radiotherapy cancer treatment centers in the country and come up with a workable plan to subsidize treatment for cancer patients.

Synopsis: NEED FOR URGENT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION ON CANCER TREATMENT FOR PATIENT IN NIGERIA
The House notes; that on 29th of December, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Bill for the establishment of National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment for the purpose of treating cancer patients in Nigeria.
Further notes; that in 2018, the Nigerian Government launched the National Cancer Control Plan (2018-2022) which is the product of extensive cross-sectoral collaboration involving the government, academia, bilateral and multilateral organizations and civil society with a proposal of a total budget to implement this plan for the period January 2018 to December 2022 estimated at NGN 97, 321,725,422.53 (USD 308,957,858.48) as at then.
Aware that; the government (Federal and State) will provide 75% of the funding required to implement this plan while the donors and development partners will support by bridging the funding gap of 25 % over the next five years.
Worried that; in that same 2018, Nigeria recorded 116,000 estimated new cancer cases with 41,000 mortality and, since then the mortality keeps increasing with Breast and Cervical Cancer being the major cause of the mortality.
Further Worried that; despite the high rate of new cases on daily basis, there are only Four (4) functional Cancer treatment centres, out of the eight (8) treatment centres in the Country.
Concerned that; Nigerians are unable to reach Physicians who specialize in these field to diagnose, give them adequate information and proper advice and treatment for the cancer due to the high cost for the treatment.
Further Concerned that; for a cancer patient to go through the complete session of Radiotherapy, an approximated amount of N750, 000 is needed, the amount that many Nigerians who are suffering from the ailment cannot afford.

Resolve to;
Mandate the House Committees on Health Institutions and Health Care Services to;
investigate the Federal Government Implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan (2018-2022), with a view to achieve the said plan.
investigate the status of all the Radiotherapy Cancer Treatment Centres in the Country with a view to determine their functionality or otherwise and what is hindering their functionality to save lives of Nigerians who are Cancer patients.
Come up with a workable plan to save Nigerians from Cancer, through provision of Radiotherapy, drugs and Palliatives for Cancer treatment.