Nigerian Teaching Hospital (UCH) Acquires First Radiation Machine on HWN CANCER UPDATE

Prof. Temitope Alonge, Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital(UCH), Ibadan, has said that the hospital has purchased a N10 million radiation machine for the treatment of cancer.

Alonge told newsmen that the Cobalt 60 radiation machine would be delivered to the hospital before the end of November.

The Cobalt 60, was purchased from Panacea Biotec Company of India, and would be ferried to Nigeria within the next few weeks.

Panacea is one of the three largest biotech companies in India, involved in research, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical formations, vaccines and natural products.

What we are saying in essence is that we took our time to investigate before purchasing and we believe the best machine that will effectively cater to the needs that it is intended for, is the Co-60.

Cancer patients needing radiotherapy for treatment can now heave a sigh of relief when this machine is delivered.

The company is responsible for installation of the machine, and radiotherapy technicians, maintenance engineers and mould room technicians, will all be trained in the management of this equipment.’’

He added that the equipment would be powered by an independent power project and extra spare parts would be supplied with the purchase.

Also, Dr Theresa Elumelu-Kupoliyi, Consultant Radiation Oncologist and Head of Department of Radiotherapy, said the team was particularly happy for the new development.

Elumelu-Kupoliyi, added that when the machine was eventually delivered, a lot of cancer patients would be successfully treated.

She said the present status of radiotherapy oncology was nothing to write home about, adding that it had been neglected by the Federal Government since its discovery in medicine.

There should be a common base-line for radiotherapy in Nigeria.

The consultant urged the Federal Government to provide these facilities in the six geo-political zones, while thanking the chief medical director for buying the equipment.

However, Dr Omolola Atalabi, decried the number of radiologists in Nigeria, adding that the country had only 500 radiologists to cater for its over 160 million population.

Atalabi said apart from inadequate manpower, equipments and methods needed to be improved upon, megavoltage machines and trained manpower were needed to effectively sustain radiotherapy in Nigeria.

Source: NAN, HWN Africa.