Poor diet increasing cancer rates amongst Nigerians –Experts

The poor dietary habits amongst Nigerians is causing increased rate of cancer prevalence in the country, medical experts have said. Prof. Dapo Campbell, pioneer head,   Radiation Oncology, University Teaching Hospital Ibadan and a member of the National Consultative Committee on Cancer Control, said Cancer remains the leading cause of death amongst non-communicable diseases in Nigeria […]

The poor dietary habits amongst Nigerians is causing increased rate of cancer prevalence in the country, medical experts have said.
Prof. Dapo Campbell, pioneer head,   Radiation Oncology, University Teaching Hospital Ibadan and a member of the National Consultative Committee on Cancer Control, said Cancer remains the leading cause of death amongst non-communicable diseases in Nigeria and a leading cause of death worldwide.
He said  that prevalence has been on the increase in the country due to low level of awareness and gross inadequacy of treatment facilities for patients.
He made this known while speaking at the opening ceremony of a week-long cancer sensitization and screening workshop with the theme “Who shall deliver us from this deadly plague” in Oshogbo. The event was organised by the Gracious Youth Empowerment Center, a Non-Governmental Organisation in partnership with the Osun Ministry of Health and Federal Ministry of Health.
Campbell, who delivered a paper titled ‘the Clinical Perspective To Cancer Prevention and Treatment’, said that cancer,  which kills over 10,000 people in the country annually with 250,000 new cases being recorded yearly, has been on the rise due to the poor dietary habit of many Nigerians.
,Professor Oyeronke Odunola, director, Cancer Research and Molecular Biology Laboratories, University of Ibadan, said that by eating enough vegetable, fruits and regular exercise, Nigerians can stem the tide of cancer.
Remi Ajibewa, GYEC chairperson, said that despite cancer being preventable, most women in Nigeria especially those living in non-metropolitan cities like Osogbo and its environs lack information on the disease, diagnosis and funds for treatment.
She said: “Most women continue to succumb to premature death simply because they do not have access to information on this disease.”