Benue Gov’t donates N2bn to establish Cancer Center

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Government has donated the sum of 2 billion naira for the establishment of a Cancer Treatment Center in the State.
Governor Hyacinth Alia made the donation on Friday at the Benue State University (BSU) College of Health Sciences during the 7 billion endowment fund raising for establishment of a Cancer center at the varsity’s Teaching Hospital, BSUTH.
Alia decried that Cancer has been responsible for over 75,000 deaths in tht country, maintaining that new approaches and collective effort are needed to curb the new tend.
He said his administration is committed to increasing health care expenditure in the State budget to give excellent and afford health care to the populace of the State.
He said: “We will increase access to quality health care delivery. We have a resolve to do things differently and toe the unpopular path where a certain few claim certain rights.
“We have granted approval to BSUTH to engage over 500 staff to stop the tide of unemployment.
“We will continue to utilize resources prudentially in improving the health sector of the State”.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by House Committee Chairman on Health Institutions Hon. Amos Magaji lamented over the rate of new cancer cases.
He disclosed that 125,000 new cases have been reported with 80,000 deaths recorded representing 45.3 new cases
“Nigeria bears 40 percent of African cancer burden, stressing that there is need to curtail medical tourism by building a solid health culture.
“We should have treatment option and develop capacity of health care.
“The house of Representative is taking the lead in robust health care system in Nigeria hence we must encourage potential investors to appreciate the importance of this center and donate as this is a new dawn in Nigeria health care sector,” the Speaker added.
On his part, the erstwhile Governor of Benue State, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, who was chairman of the event, said when established, the cancer center will reduce the cost of patients travelling long distances to access cancer treatment.