Healthcare: Africa’s biggest Kano multibillion Naira cancer centre 90 percent ready ─Governor

*The Kano State Government has said it purchased and received more than 90 percent of the needed equipment to commence operations at the state’s multibillion Naira cancer centre for treatment of ‘all types of cancers known in Africa’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Rated as the biggest cancer treatment facility in Africa, the Kano State Government has said it purchased and received over 90 percent of the needed equipment for the commencement of operations at the state-owned multibillion Naira cancer centre located in Kano City.

ConsumerConnect reports Governor (Dr.) Umar Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State disclosed this development during a tour of the healthcare centre by delegates of the annual conference of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).

Cancer Treatment Centre   Photo:VON

Regarded as the biggest facility on the African continent, Governor Ganduje said the equipment for the cancer centre had already been delivered to the State Government, in store, and are awaiting installation.

The governor stated: “Over 90 percent of the equipment are on the ground, and they are in our medical stores. Only very few sensitive equipment that require cold room are remaining.”

Treat all types of cancers

Ganduje also noted that the centre would treat all types of cancers known in Africa.

He explained that “in order to make it  unique and distinctive, we undertook a research on the prevalence of cancer in Nigeria, West African and Africa, not dwelling only on simple cancer, such as cervical, breast cancer, but all the types of cancers that are prevalent in Africa.”

According to the governor, the centre, when commissioned, would be affordable to the less-privileged consumers, as discounting rate would be worked out in their favour.

In terms of the finance arrangement in the operations of the facility, he the rich would be taxed to finance treatment services needed by the less-privileged at the cancer centre.

“Access by the ordinary man was put into consideration.”

“The whole issue is that, you tax the rich to improve the quality of the poor. There will be an arrangement: the rich can afford it because he doesn’t need to fly to Europe to take a hotel and also pay for the medication.

“Everything has been brought here, so it will be a haven of treatment for the rich.”

There will be an arrangement for the less-privileged to enjoy services. There will be a discounting system for those who cannot afford it,” said he.

Governor Ganduje added that the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre is the biggest in Nigeria, and it has more capacity than that of Ghana, a neighbouring country in West Africa.

ConsumerConnect recalls the Kano State Government December 2020 had slated the multibillion estimated N5billion Kano Cancer Centre of Excellence for completed and readiness for comprehensive operations by July 2021.

The critical healthcare project sited at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, in Giginyu Quarters,is structurally designed to accommodate world-class facilities for both radiotherapy and chemotherapy cancer treatment.