The Bauchi state House of Assembly has urged the state Government to establish cancer screening centres in Specialist and the General Hospitals across the state.
Mr. Bello Jadori, Chairman, House Committee on Health, made the call in a motion at plenary on Wednesday, in Bauchi, saying that citizens were struggling to cope with increasing burden of cancer in the country.
” The cancer situation is worsened by the lack of proper awareness, trained personnel and availability of screening centres for early detection in the state’s health facilities.
“Therefore, the government, in the interim, should establish cancer management centres and units in Specialist Hospitals and all general hospitals in the state.
“Government should provide trained staff and equipment in the health facilities that will help in screening and management of cancer cases in the state”, Jadori said.
Supporting the motion, Mr. Tukur Ibrahim and Mr. Sale Hodi, respectively, said,” the motion came at the right time.”
They said the issues of cancer management centres or units was long overdue, adding.” the state has only one screening at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital.
“So, there is the need for the state government to establish screening centres or units in all general hospitals in the state.”
The house unanimously adopted the motion and Mr. Abubakar Sulaiman, Speaker of the Assembly, referred it to the Clerk for transmission to the Executive.
Meanwhile, Gov. Bala Mohammed has sent a Bill for a Law for the Establishment of Vigilante and Youth Empowerment outfit in the state.
The assembly has also passed a Bill for the Establishment of Bauchi State Tourism Development Corporation and Connected Matters, at the plenary.