This training program, meticulously organized by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), was emphasized by the Institute's esteemed Director General, Professor Usman Aliyu. He underscored the criticality of this initiative due to the inadequate oncology workforce available to effectively manage the escalating prevalence of cancer among Nigerian citizens.
During the joint opening ceremony for four distinct training programs held in Abuja, Aliyu stressed that this initiative will enhance the skills and knowledge of the oncology workforce nationwide.
The three-day training attracted participants from all six geopolitical zones and covered topics such as cancer immunotherapy, colorectal cancer surgery, a train-the-trainer program on recognizing signs and symptoms of childhood cancer, and critical thinking and research in oncology nursing.
Elaborating on the purpose of this initiative and its anticipated benefits, the DG stated: “Oncology is a rapidly developing field in medicine, and we are facing a significant shortage of oncology professionals in the country.
Part of NICRAT's mission is to train and develop a sufficient oncology workforce, including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, oncology nurses, medical physicists, and palliative care staff.”
The significance of this initiative lies in providing not only the necessary care but also ensuring that cancer care is delivered with quality and timeliness when required.
In alignment with our 5-year strategic plan, the Institute has developed a program to train all oncology professionals nationwide.
This marks the beginning of our efforts, and we are committed to ongoing training and retraining until we meet the commitments made by the government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This underscores the importance of these training sessions.
Since its establishment in early 2023, NICRAT has launched several strategies aimed at alleviating the impact of various cancers in Nigeria.
One of these strategies involves organizing training sessions for healthcare professionals on different facets of cancer care, prevention, treatment, and management.
The latest initiative included training healthcare workers in primary and secondary facilities on the early detection and management of chronic Hepatitis B and C, as well as liver cancer, in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states, which concluded yesterday.
Additionally, a few months ago, NICRAT sent experts to all six geopolitical zones to conduct three significant training programs. The first focused on training Biomedical Engineers and Medical Physicists, the second on Psycho-Oncology for healthcare professionals at the tertiary level, and the third on Cervical Cancer Screening and Referral for primary and secondary healthcare workers. Over 1,000 healthcare professionals benefited from these training sessions across various regions of the country.