DG NICRAFT SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH NNRA FOR CANCER TREATMENT

DG NICRAFT SEEKS PARTNERSHIP WITH NNRA FOR CANCER TREATMENT

The Director General, Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), Dr Yau Idris, received the DG of National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr Usman Aliyu on courtesy visit on the 6^th of June, 2023 at the NNRA Headquarters, Abuja.

The aim of the visit was to establish a good working relationship and to discuss areas of possible collaboration to improve access to cancer treatment through radiotherapy in Nigeria. The visit also seeks to collaborate with the NNRA to actualize Nigeria’s objective of improving service delivery to cancer patients across the country.

Dr Yau appreciated Dr Usman Aliyu and his team for the visit and stated that the NNRA is open to collaborations that will benefit Nigerians in need of cancer treatment in the country. He highlighted the core functions of NNRA which is primarily to ensure the safe application of nuclear materials and radioactive sources in the country for the benefit of humanity. Dr Yau further informed NICRAT that NNRA also has an Institute in Ibadan, called National Institute of Radiation Protection and Research (NIRPRI) which was established by Section 11 of the NNRA Act 1995, with the sole responsibility of technical services/research and training.

The DG of NICRAT explained the functions of its Institute to the NNRA representatives which included among others: guide scientific improvement to cancer prevention, treatment and care, coordinate and liaise within the wide range of groups and healthcare providers with interest in cancer, make recommendations to the government on cancer policies and to oversee a dedicated budget for research into cancer.

At the end of the Courtesy visit, both organizations agreed that there is need to have more qualified personnel in cancer treatment and an efficient cancer registry in the country.

The meeting was attended by Eleven (11) representatives, Five (5) representatives from NICRAT and six (6) from NNRA.