The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has commended Shell Petroleum Development Company for donating a cancer treatment machine to the National Hospital, Abuja.
The minister made the commendation in a statement issued by Mrs Boade Akinola, Director, Media and Public Relation of the ministry on Wednesday in Abuja.
Akinola said the minister applauded the company while inspecting the second Radiotherapy machine for cancer treatment at the National Hospital.
According to her, Elekta machine for Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is made up of several components which would be coupled and made functional for patients in June, 2018.
The minister said the machine would contribute immensely to the fight against cancer.
Adewole said the Abuja Radiotherapy centre would be running two Linear accelerators at the same time.
He added that: “The beauty of having two Machines is that if one pack up, the second one will be in use for the benefit of cancer patients.’’
He reiterated government’s commitment towards reducing the effect of cancer in Nigeria through the on-going phased installation of one cancer treatment machine in each of the six geo-political zones plus two in FCT.
He therefore called on other multi-national organisations, individuals and groups to emulate the gesture demonstrated by shell petroleum development company as part of their social responsibility to the citizenry.
The statement also quoted the oil company, Dr Akinwumi Fajola, as saying that the donation is one of the company’s ways of giving back to the society in which it operates.
Adewole; wife of the vice-president, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo; and other stakeholders inaugurated the radiotherapy centre at the National Hospital in December 2017.
The centre has a new Multileave Linear Accelerator, LINAC machine, for cancer treatment at the Hospital.
The minister said about 100 cancer patients can expect to be treated daily at the centre.
The National Hospital Abuja has also received additional radiotherapy machine to boost cancer treatment in Nigeria on Feb. 20.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), National Hospital, Dr Jaff Momoh, said that the Abuja radiotherapy centre would be the only centre in West Africa running two Linear accelerators at the same time.
The CMD added that the additional machine was to avoid running down the first machine which has currently treated over 200 patients. (NAN)
