Health Minister inspects second cancer treatment machine

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole yesterday inspected the second Radiotherapy machine for Cancer treatment at the National Hospital Abuja.
A statement issued yesterday by the Director, Media and Public Relations, Boade Akinola, said the Elekta machine for Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is made up of several components which would be coupled and made functional for patients in June, 2018.
It said the minister who spoke during the inspection tour, Prof. Adewole said the Abuja Radiotherapy centre would be running two Linear accelerators at the same time.
He further said that ‘’ the beauty of having two Machines is that if one pack up, the second one will be in use for the benefit of cancer patients’’.
Prof. Adewole lauded the Shell Petroleum Development Company for donating the cancer treatment machine which he said would contribute immensely to the fight against cancer where calling on other Multi National Organisations, Individuals and groups to undertake such gesture as part of their social reponbility to the citizenry.
He further reiterated Federal Government’s commitment towards reducing the effect of cancer in Nigeria which is being demonstrated by the on-going phased installation of one cancer treatment machine in each of the Six Geo- Political Zones plus two in FCT.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director, National Hospital Abuja, Dr. Jeff Momoh noted that the second machine would greatly assist in the provision of standard cancer treatment to patients in Nigeria and other African countries thereby reducing cancer burden in the entire continent.