Lawmakers worry about increasing threat of cancer

The House of Representatives yesterday moved closer to a law that will enable more indigenous studies on cancer to be carried out, amid varying tales of the dread of the disease which researchers say may be the world's worst killer by 2010.

In a unanimous vote, the lawmakers passed for the second reading a bill that proposes to establish the National Cancer Institute as the nation's principal agency for cancer research.

In tales after tales, the members shared the experiences of relatives who suffered from the disease, viewed widely, but erroneously, as the exclusive disease of the rich.

"My wife of 15 years and four children died of breast cancer after I sold my house and sent her abroad for treatment," said a member, Mohammed Abdul. According to Mr. Abdul, his wife died in Indonesia, though after receiving quality treatment from a National Cancer Hospital set up by the First Lady of that country

The members said the frequency of the reports of cancer deaths and related ailments in Nigeria, has made it necessary for a prompt attention against the disease "as we move away from agrarian food to more refined foods." "Now we are all used to the increasing threat from this ailment," said the House Minority Leader, Ali Ndume. "If all the money that has been spent on the so called National Space Centre were directed to this kind of institute, it would have really blessed this country."

Cancer as leading killer

The World Health Organisation reported early this year that by 2010, unless new treatments are found, the disease will be the leading killer in the world, more than malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS combined.

"There could be more people with cancer by 2030, and 17 million cancer deaths reported annually. And, there could be 75 million people living with cancer within five years after diagnosis," the report said.

The government is widely believed not to be responding well to the threat, though the rate of occurrences in Nigeria is one of the continent's highest.

Some lawmakers again blamed the government for not conducting sufficient awareness campaigns the in tune with the funds allocated, particularly to raise people's knowledge on breast cancer, said to be the commonest type in the country.

"Year in, year out, monies are being appropriated for this purpose and other deadly diseases," said Dino Melaye, from Kogi State.

"The campaigns carried out by the Ministry of Health, is not commensurate with the voted amounts." A recent project by the wife of the president, Turai Yar'adua, has been the closest attention given to the disease. Mrs Yar'adua has held fund raising which she said will be channelled to setting up a cancer centre.