Pix: Prof Ademola Popoola
By Mark Mayah
A Professor of Urological Surgery at University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Professor Ademola Alabi Popoola has called on the Federal Government to urgently establish a Radiotherapy
and Nuclear Medicine Center in Ilorin, to cater for the people of North Central Nigeria.
Professor Popoola made the call while delivering the 250th inaugural lecture of the institution.
In his lecture titled: “That All May Pee in Peace” said the whole of the North Central region (apart from Abuja) has none. This would reduce the additional burden that cancer patients who need radiotherapy goes through having to travel to Abuja and
Ibadan for this treatment adding the establishment would not only help to expand but would also improve the nation’s healthcare system.
He said the comprehensive care of patients with urological malignancies should be covered by the National Health
Insurance Authority.
Professor Popoola noted that Government should recognize the health burden posed by
Kidney failure and therefore should support the care of
these patients and develop a workable model of helping
these patients.
“Therefore I am advocating that
Government should make available Research funding to
support genitourinary problems including kidney failure. National Health Insurance Authority should cover
screening, evaluation and treatment of prostate cancer and
other cancers affecting all ages and gender.
He noted further that a more practical and expedite actions be taken to build the proposed Urology and Nephrology center in UITH. This has been on the drawing board for a long time.
“For this reason, I believe it is important that the UITH is encouraged as a matter of urgency
resuscitates the kidney transplantation task force in the hospital and consider improving the existing facility. The UITH is encouraged to help establish a one stop
hematuria clinic in order to help early diagnosis of
cancers of the urinary tract. Because in the whole of North Central geopolitical
zones, there is not a single radiotherapy facility. The University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, as a foremost hospital in the region, should have radiotherapy, including brachytherapy, for the treatment of cancers as a matter of urgency”, professor Popoola stressed.
To professor Popoola, “The University Health Services working in conjunction with
the Division of Urology of the College should start a screening programme for prostate cancer among staff of the
University. This could be extended to non-University staff,
which would also help increase the IGR of the system.There is a need to expand the skills and facilities that are available at the University Central Research Laboratory so that advanced molecular and genetic studies can be performed.
Professor Popoola enjoined UNILORIN authority to develop multidisciplinary
team on cancer research including developing home grown patients derived xenograft (PDX) to model various cancers. This can be utilised for many studies including clinical trials.
Said he: “For effective management and higher quality care of various health conditions, chronic medical conditions should be managed in specialized units by specialists I trained in the field, Nigeria has now developed to that extent, the brain
drain notwithstanding.
