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Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Y Suleiman presiding over plenary
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
A motion calling on the Bauchi State Government to create breast and other cancerous infections screening units in the State Specialist Hospital and all General Hospitals across the State has been adopted by the Bauchi State House of Assembly to mitigate the pains cancer patients are going through leading to death.
The motion was moved by the member representing Gamawa Constituency in the House, Bello Sarkin Jadori during plenary on Wednesday explaining that cancer is a deadly malignant disease and is prevalent in sub saharan Africa, stressing that people of the North-East part of the country are struggling to cope with the increasing burden of the cancer and other communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
He added that cancer is among the major diseases in Nigeria with over 100,000 new cases and 70, 000 deaths recorded annually. According to the lawmaker, review of cancerous infections conducted in ATBU Teaching Hospital showed an average diagnosis of five cancer cases every week saying rhetorically that, “What will happen in Specialist Hospital, general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the State if diagnostic equipments will be made available?
The member prayed state government should establish cancer management centres in the Specialist Hospital Bauchi and other General Hospitals in the State for proper diagnosis which will help in addressing the cases of cancer by 80% in Bauchi state.
Also, to further ensure effective implementation and proper placement of the unit, the House should mandate its committee on health to visit two or three states that implemented the law of cancer in their states with a view to enact same in Bauchi State.
In his contribution, Saleh Hodi Jibir representing Disina Constituency said that the issue of cancer cannot be overemphasized because according to him, the disease is controllable but people are not enlightened on the early signs of the diseases despite the fact that it is leading mortality rate in the country.
Sale Hodi further noted that the House has important role to play towards combating the disease and bring scour to the victims who are helpless and 8n most cases poor and cannot afford to pay for treatment.
“In Bauchi there is only one Cancer Centre which belongs to the federal government. We need to have centres owned by the State Government to reduce the prevalent of the disease. The condition touches everyone thus all the lawmakers are ready to contribute toward the motion.” He added.
Yusuf Muhammad Bako representing Pali Constituency commended the mover of the motion for considering the plight of the people of the rural areas and explained that many people see cancer as incurable which is resulting in death of many people.
He suggested that dialysis centres should also be set up in all hospitals and make dialysis free in the State because according to him, the free dialysis centre will ease the hardship being faced by people suffering from kidney related diseases.
However, the Deputy Speaker, Danlami Ahmed Kawule disagreed with the suggestion of Yusuf Bako and suggested that the House should not deviate to another issue since the motion is about cancer, the issue of dialysis should be left for another motion.
Yunusa Ahmad representing Warji Constituency said that the motion is very important and long overdue and added that the laboratories for screening of cancer are capital intensive and is not like any other laboratory thus tere is need if intervention of government to establish such laboratories.
Yunusa Ahmed explained that observation of cancer needs specialized skill and early detection and management of cancer is the key to fight against the disease.
According to him, “People will be doing their businesses without knowing that they have cancers, therefore having these cancer centres is very key. Cancer is not restricted to only women even men are suffering from various types of cancer which affects them in so many ways including their sexual capacity.
Abdulkadir Umar Dewu of Kirfi Constituency said that the issue should be given all the importance it deserves.
He stated that, “The statistics presented in the motion showed that 80 percent of the those infected die from the disease. Issue of awareness creation should be taken with more seriousness because people in the rural areas don’t know much about the disease. Issue of manpower to handle the disease”.
Abdulkadir Dewu suggested that the House should mandate the House Committee on Health to come up with a law that will guide how to fight the disease in the State.
Minority Leader, Bakoji Aliyu Bobbo suggested that the House should mandate the Committee to come up with an enabling law that will mandate the Government on how to fight the disease.
The House thereby adopted the prayers of the motion; to communicate to the executive to establish cancer management centres in hospitals and the House Committee on Health to come up with a draft bill for a Law to guide on how to fight the disease.
