The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) has organised a training workshop for medical directors and health workers in Zamfara State to raise awareness about cancer. This comes as medical experts warn that herbal concoctions can worsen liver cancer.
The workshop, held in collaboration with the Zamfara State Ministry of Health, was opened on Thursday at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Medical Association in Gusau, Zamfara State.
Speaking during the event, Dr. Aminu Mohammed Nahuce, a consultant and team lead of the training, explained that the capacity-building workshop was designed for primary and secondary healthcare workers, focusing on chronic viral hepatitis and the identification, management, and referral of suspected liver cancer cases.
“The participants were drawn from primary healthcare centres in all 14 local government areas, as well as medical directors of general hospitals in the state,” Dr. Nahuce stated.
He further emphasised that the workshop would focus on hepatitis B and C, the primary causes of liver diseases. “This disease is ravaging our society, and there is a need to raise awareness among healthcare workers for the prompt identification, treatment, and prevention of hepatitis.”
Dr Ibrahim Hano, a paediatric consultant and resource person during the workshop, advised the public to be more vigilant and report any unusual signs. He also warned against the use of herbal concoctions, stating, “Avoid taking herbal concoctions, as they would only worsen liver cancer.”
In his remarks, Dr Aminu Abdullahi, the Zamfara State Ministry of Health desk officer on cancer and a consultant radiologist, stressed the importance of increasing awareness about liver cancer, early detection, and prevention. “There is a need for early referral. Our major problem is awareness. We need to educate people about knowing their status, early detection, and prevention.”
Dr. Abdullahi further assured that the state government is always ready to collaborate with any agency that seeks to improve healthcare delivery in Zamfara State. He also urged health workers at primary healthcare centres to screen patients, provide treatment if possible, and refer them to the next hospital if the case worsens.
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