TINUBU FLAGS OFF ULTRA-MODERN CANCER CENTRE IN NSUKKA: A LIFE LINE FOR THE SOUTHEAST

In a groundbreaking step towards improving healthcare access, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art cancer and diagnostic centre at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Nsukka.

The new centre is part of a broader national health initiative, designed to bring world-class medical care closer to Nigerian communities and reduce the burden of critical illnesses like cancer.

HEALING POWER CLOSE TO HOME

The Nsukka centre is one of three ultra-modern facilities commissioned simultaneously, with the others located in Benin City and Katsina. This medical hub is equipped to serve up to 2,000 oncology patients and 350,000 diagnostic cases annually.

For residents of Enugu and surrounding states, this represents a shift from long-distance travel and foreign treatment to localized, accessible healthcare. With the installation of cutting-edge equipment like CT scanners and linear accelerators, patients can now receive world-class care in their own region.

BUILDING PEOPLE, NOT JUST STRUCTURES

A key pillar of this initiative is workforce development. In collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and its health subsidiary, Medserve, the project will train up to 500 healthcare professionals over the next three years.

Many of these clinicians will undergo specialized training abroad, particularly in South Africa, equipping them with the expertise needed to manage and operate the sophisticated equipment and treatment protocols of the new centres.

HOPE FOR THE FINANCIALLY STRAINED

Recognizing the financial stress that comes with critical illness, the federal government has introduced a ₦20 billion Catastrophic Health Fund. This new scheme ensures that Nigerians facing life-threatening conditions, such as cancer or kidney failure, can access treatment without falling into poverty.

In addition, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) is offering up to ₦400,000 in radiotherapy subsidies per eligible patient, significantly easing the burden on low-income households.