Jonathan Canvasses Grassroots Approach To Cancer Control

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said a collaborative and community-based healthcare system will help to control the spread of cancer and improve the health sector of Nigeria.

Jonathan made this known at the 28th Annual Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO) Development forum, with the theme, “Promoting Community Based Cancer Control Programme in Nigeria: The LAPO C4 Initiative.”

The former president said Africa bears a heavy burden of cancer, with a significantly high mortality rate, that a recent projection by the World Health Organisation indicated that over 70 percent of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, many of which are in Africa.

According to him, late detection and referral for treatment and poor access to treatment account for the high mortality rate in poorer countries.

“These delays in diagnosis and proper referrals lead to a situation where a high percentage of cancer cases arrive at the point of treatment at advanced stages of the disease when it is difficult to recover from or even manage. Read more on leadership.ng