The Kano Childhood Cancer Foundation (KCCF) in collaboration with the Paediatric Tumor Board of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), on Wednesday, raised awareness on childhood cancer.
Speaking at the event themed “Close the Care Gap: Childhood Cancer Awareness, Challenges and Prospects in Resource Poor Countries”, Muuatassim Ibrahim, a Consulting Paediatrician, said the conference aimed at bringing people’s awareness of cancer, its health risk and how the victims can be assisted.
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“I want people to know that Cancer exists and it is curable if detected early, but the problem lies in the cost of treating the, treating cancer is very expensive.”
Also, Abdulrahman Abba Sheshe Chief of Medical Director of AKTH said his hospital is one of the third generation tertiary hospitals in Nigeria and as part of its mandate in providing needed services to the people, AKTH is putting a lot of efforts in place to support the cancer victims.
“As part of our efforts, for over the years now we are trying to establish a cancer unit, cancer team and cancer Centre in the hospital, and so far we had a cancer team and already we are in the process of getting a structure that will be call a Cancer treatment Centre and in few years to come,” he said.
He added that AKTH is ready to partner with the state government as they have all the materials for diagnosis, manpower, and specialists to ensure quality services delivery and ensure cancer patients are properly treated.
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Earlier at the event, the Chairman of the KCCF, Sarki Muhammad, who was represented by Alwan A. Hassan, said the foundation was voluntarily set up by concerned citizens of Kano in October after they realised that 80% of children that have cancer are from poor backgrounds and cannot affords treatments.
He added that, so far, the foundation has been able to raise N7 million to support patients with some basic drugs, payments of laboratory tests, feeding and other support services.
However, the Sarkin Shanun Kano, Shehu Muhammad said the issue of childhood cancer is worrisome, calling on many philanthropists to support the foundation financially.
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