By Uche Bibilari
The Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD), University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Prof. Bob Ukonu, on Thursday reiterated the need to bridge the gap in the number of cancer cases in Nigeria.
Ukonu said this during the “Mural of Hope: Unveiling Inspiration for Paediatric Cancer Patient” event in Gwagwalada.
He was represented by the Acting Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, UATH, Prof. Joseph Obande.
He said the Mural of Hope was done by some foundations, comprising BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH), Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF), Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) and Burkitt’s Lymphoma Fund for Africa (BLFA).
He said that this was an artistic painting done in the children cancer ward of UATH to inspire their lives as they go through their cancer experience.
The CMD said that 80 per cent of cancer were curable in the developed world while in our own world only 20 per cent are curable.
He described the situation as a very huge and wide disparity.
He said that the programme was aimed at reducing paediatric cancer treatment abandonment, providing emotional support and improving the overall patient experience.
“When people come and are diagnosed and treatment commence by staff of the hospital at the course of treatment, six out of 10 will abandon treatment.
“This shows that there is a whole lot we need to do in terms of reducing this gap,” he said.
According to him, nearly 60 per cent of paediatric patients at UATH discontinue cancer treatment, often due to fear, anxiety and a lack of hope.
“Research shows that art in clinical settings can ease anxiety, promote healing, and improve overall wellbeing.
“As part of an ongoing initiative to create a more supportive and welcoming environment for young patients undergoing cancer treatment, a new mural will be unveiled in the paediatric ward at the UATH,” he said.
Ukonu said that once children with cancer were inducted into the treatment programme which could be by drugs, radiotherapy or use of surgery, they suffer a lot of anxiety, abandonment and loss of hope.
“This mural will help to inspire hope and also helpful in the healing process of any child in this ward,” he said.
Similarly, Consultant Paediatrician in charge of Oncology Ward, UATH, Dr Uduak Offiong, said that there was need for more advocacy and awareness programme on cancer.
“Outside there I have a lot of patients who come from the interior villages; by the time they come the cancer is quite extensive and at this time it’s more or less palliative care.
“We need people to be aware that children can get cancer; the earlier children come the better the outcome,” she said.
The CEO, Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF), Dr Zainab Bagudu, said that the Mural of Hope public art contest was intended to bring hope, joy and inspiration to children and families undergoing cancer treatment.
Represented by Ms Aisha Muhammed, Programme Manager, MCF, Bagudu said that the mural was part of a broader programme at UATH.
She said that the programme also served as a means of giving hope to children suffering from cancer to show that they are not alone in the battle.
The CEO thanked the hospital for providing the space, and also BVGH for the combined effort to fight the disease.
“Like we preach in MCF, early detection saves lives before the cancer progresses to something advanced, let us start fighting it,” she said.
Mr Joseph Steve, a Visual Artist/Art Educator, the winner of Mural of Hope competition, said that the inspiration for the artwork was nature.
Steve said that nature had the essence that heals, adding that he was motivated by children being a teacher of children between the ages of five to 11 years.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the event was the presentation of a cash gift to the winner of the designed and painted Mural of Hope artwork. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Benson Ezugwu/Kadiri Abdulrahman
