By 
A Professor of Surgery at the University of Ilorin, Peter Oladapo Adeoye, has called for the establishment of more radiotherapy and nuclear medicine centres across the nation for a more efficient and effective battle against the perilous disease.
Professor Adeoye, made the call while delivering 216th edition of inaugural lecture of the University, entitled “Battling to Keep our Hearts” at the University auditorium.
The don, who bemoaned the rate and magnitude of cancer afflictions in the country, also traced the history of heart surgery in Nigeria as he said that the journey has not been joyous.
Prof. Adeoye paid glowing tributes to the pioneers in the field in Nigeria as he said that many specialists who could have assisted to deepen achievements in the field were frustrated out and forced to return to foreign lands despite the fact that their number in the country was even grossly inadequate.
The renowned surgeon decried the situation where a patient who is operated upon at a location in Nigeria would be compelled to wait for appointments for further treatments at other cities, saying that such an unenviable tendency will not give the desired outcome.
Prof. Adeoye specifically called for the establishment of open heart surgical centres in Nigeria as he expressed the conviction that the development would facilitate a situation where patients would be promptly treated.
The Inaugural Lecturer also called on stakeholders to work for the improvement of facilities and sub-specialisation in Histopathology. He explained that the development of specialisation will improve promptness and accuracy in identifying disease conditions, especially cancer.
Prof. Adeoye, who is also the Director of the Technical Entrepreneurship Centre (TEC), University of Ilorin, pointed out that the establishment of such a centre would also enhance the situation where cancer registry will be better stored and monitored.
He noted that dedicated theatres, intensive care units and cardiac catheterization laboratory should also be provided, saying that the contemporary practice is the building of hybrid theatres which function for catheterization as well as for surgery.
Prof. Adeoye also implored concerned authorities to ensure team building among various related professionals as he said they must be groomed and maintained as a team to achieve the desired aim.
The Inaugural Lecturer also appealed to the government to ensure improved funding of cancer research. He opined that many cancers still have grey areas and yet to be identified aetiological factors, particularly in our environment.
Prof. Adeoye said that it was important for all those who are concerned to commit adequate financial, material and human resources towards achieving efficient and sustainable cardiac surgery programme.
The lecture, which was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem, was attended by medical professionals, relations, students and colleagues of Professor Adeoye.
Comments