Thread by @runciecwc

It is a shame that Niger Delta, a region that produces the greatest economic resources for Nigeria, does not have a single functional CANCER Radiotherapy Treatment machine for her 40million people.
punchng.com/we-travel-mile…
Call on Govs & Pres. to save cancers patients
Pls RT.

Radiotherapy is one of the major treatment options in cancer management, according to the @WHO
52% of cancer patients should receive radiotherapy at least once during the treatment of their cancer.
#ChokeCancer

Together with other modalities such as surgery and chemotherapy, it plays an important role in the treatment of 40 percent of those patients who are cured of their cancer,” @WHO
#ChokeCancer

“A woman diagnosed of breast cancer in Okirika or a man diagnosed of prostate cancer in Yenagoa who needs cancer radiotherapy treatment will have to travel for over 1,322km (that is 19 hours) to Zaria, Abuja or Lagos to get this life-saving treatment.
#ChokeCancer

“The pain that comes with a diagnosis of cancer is huge, let alone of travelling so far away to receive a treatment that usually lasts for months.
#ChokeCancer

“For a population of over 200 million, Nigeria has only 10 radiotherapy machines, and only five machines work a time,” Chidebe said.
#ChokeCancer

Other cancer radiotherapy machines are located at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria (not functional); Eko Hospital, Lagos and the America Cancer Centre, Imo State.
#ChokeCancer

“Cancer patients in Nigeria are paying with their blood.
This is health injustice, cancer patients are voiceless and helpless in this country.
Hundreds of cancer patients die in pain in this country, they didn't bring cancer to themselves. Anybody can be diagnosed of cancer.

This is catastrophic and I am calling all Niger Delta governors @GovernorObaseki @MrUdomEmmanuel
@GovWike @IAOkowa @govdouyediri @senatorbenayade and President @MBuhari to give our women, children and men impacted by #cancer a second chance in life.
#NigerDelta
#ChokeCancer

@NDDCOnline established with mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta is being probed for mismanaging N80bn. Meanwhile, the price of CANCER Radiotherapy machine ranges from $2m to $4m, with all the accessories, [$207.48m].
cc @nassnigeria @femigbaja @ShehuSani
#ChokeCancer

“In a week, a doctor in UPTH sees between 5 and 8 patients who require radiotherapy treatment. But, this figure does not take cognizance of other hospitals, including private hospitals, or other south-south states.
#ChokeCancer

South-south is a densely populated area and quite a number of patients come from this area. A number of times, the doctors will start other forms of treatment and find other way to help patients because radiotherapy is not available.
cc @uicc @IGCSociety @USinNigeria @Fmohnigeria

Despite their statuses as oil-bearing and food basket region, the Niger Delta states lack functional government-owned radiotherapy machines, as cancer patients travel miles to access major treatment options. @Lara_Adejoro of @MobilePunch reports.

Apart from the pains and anguish they endure, cancer patients in Nigeria, generally, also experience trauma related to travelling long distances to receive specialist cancer treatment.
#ChokeCancer

People living with cancer in the south-south part of the country — such as Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River and Delta states — seem to be the worst hit. #ChokeCancer

When Victoria went for her medical check-up at the UPTH in Rivers State, she thought she would be booked immediately for her radiotherapy treatment. Little did she know that she had to travel miles to access such treatment.
#ChokeCancer

The 34-year-old mother-of-one was devastated when she was told that the nearest state to get the radiotherapy treatment was either Lagos or Imo.
What made it worse for her was that she was wheel chair-bound and needed to charter a car for her journey.

#ChokeCancer

“The experience is what I don’t wish for anyone. I was in pain; it was during the lockdown. I had spinal cord problem because I was diagnosed of lung cancer.

“Doctor told me that the cancer had spread to my bone and that the best option was to go for radiotherapy.
#ChokeCancer

“I had expected to be referred to the UPTH, but instead, I was told that the nearest place was Lagos or Imo. Looking at my condition, I was in serious pain and on wheelchair and if I must go anywhere, I must go in a private vehicle,” Ugorji said.

She later opted for the American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, in Imo state. That’s 53 miles away, and over two hours by road, according to Google Map.
The trip cost her N20,000 for transport fare from Port-Harcourt to Imo state; while the medical bill was N600,000.

#ChokeCancer

“I almost died. At a point, we waited for one hour because of the traffic jam. I got to Imo State around 9 pm.”

According to her, there were other patients from Rivers State who also came for the same treatment at the cancer centre.

#ChokeCancer

“We were about six people from Rivers State who came for the treatment and I was wondering why we couldn’t have at least a radiotherapy machine in the entire Rivers State,” she lamented.
#ChokeCancer

“The treatment is N400,000. The consultation fee is N30,000 and the test was over N70,000. Accommodation was about N24,000. So, everything is roughly about N600,000,” Ugorji explained.

#ChokeCancer

Another cancer patient, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwogu, who was diagnosed of breast cancer in 2018, travelled from Port-Harcourt to Lagos State twice for her treatment.

Port Harcourt to Lagos takes 10 hours 12 minutes, being 274 miles by road, according Google Map.
#ChokeCancer

Nwogu made the first journey to book an appointment for the radiotherapy, while she later returned for the treatment.
“I did my biopsy and chemotherapy at UPTH and the doctor suggested that I travel to Lagos for my radiotherapy.
#ChokeCancer

“I came for my radiotherapy at the cancer centre in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, in October 2019, because we don’t have any radiotherapy centre in Rivers State.
#ChokeCancer

“The first time I came, I had to stay at a hotel; but when I came for the treatment, I was lucky that I had a place to stay with my friends.

“Even though I had a place to stay, I spent so much on transportation. #ChokeCancer

I traveled to and from Lagos by air with my husband, and I was lucky that for the period I was there, the machine didn’t break down because there are so many people coming from various parts of the country for the treatment.
#ChokeCancer

“I spent about N800,000 for the treatment, including the consultation fee and the tests I ran,” Nwogu said.

According to her, if there was a place for the treatment in her state of residence, she would not have spent so much on accommodation and transportation. #ChokeCancer