Benue State Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has contributed N2 billion to the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) endowment fund to establish a cancer centre in the state.
Governor Alia made the donation on Friday, during the hospital’s International Health Investment Summit and Scientific Exhibition in Makurdi.
The summit’s theme was “Towards Attaining a One Stop Hospital” with the sub-theme “Demystifying and Domesticating and Ultra Modern Cancer Care in BSUTH Through Gainful Collaboration, Sustainable Health Financing: Policies, Opportunities and Financing Options.”
Alia bemoaned that cancer has caused over 75,000 deaths in the country, stating that new techniques and collaborative efforts are required to combat the new trend.
He stated that his government is committed to boosting health care expenditures in the state budget in order to provide great and affordable health care to the state’s population.
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 prudently 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, noting that 125,000 new cases has been reported with 80,000 deaths recorded representing 45.3 new cases yearly.
According to him, “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”.
Former Governor of Benue State, Sen. Gabriel Suswam said if established, the cancer center will reduce the cost of patient travelling long distances to access cancer treatment.
Suswam who was the Chairman of the Endowment fund urged Governor Alia, to continue to encourage people across party lines to contribute to healthcare in the state advising that the health of the Benue people should not be politicized.
The former Governor praised the Keynote speaker, Dr. Adewale Tolulope, who expressed his willingness to assist the state in establishing the cancer treatment centre and urged others to join him.
He asked the state’s people to appreciate Governor Alia, who does not combine politics with development concerns, noting that cancer knows no politics, whether you are in the PDP or the APC, and that the governor is concerned about development.
He also cautioned them not to believe reports of large sums of money pouring into the state since the Naira has lost value, stating that the government would be unable to embark on such a project without the assistance of its people.
Speakers at the event include the NSIA Advance Medical Services Ltd, Dr Tolulope Adewale, Chairman UNICURE Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd, Mr Eric Hanqin Liu, former Director General NAFDAC Dr Paul Orhii and a Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist, Dr Samuel Otene.