BAYELSA MOVES TO ESTABLISH CANCER TREATMENT AND RESEARCH CENTRE

 ** **The Bayelsa State Government has inaugurated an 18-member steering committee to work towards establishing a Cancer Treatment and Research Centre in the state.

Governor Douye Diri, represented by his deputy, Peter Akpe, inaugurated the committee at Government House, Yenagoa, on Friday. The governor said the initiative was necessary because of the growing cancer burden among residents.

Diri expressed concern about the health challenges faced by communities affected by decades of oil pollution. He cited concerns raised in the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission’s 2023 report about the potential long-term health consequences of environmental exposure.

The governor said breast, cervical and prostate cancers were affecting residents and that many families faced significant financial difficulties when seeking diagnosis and treatment outside the state.

He tasked the committee with assessing the cancer burden in Bayelsa and recommending a suitable location for the proposed centre. The committee is also expected to make recommendations on infrastructure, medical equipment, funding, partnerships and staffing.

Other areas of responsibility include staff training, maintenance, accessibility and ensuring the availability of medicines and other medical supplies.

The committee is chaired by the state Commissioner for Health, Prof Seiyefa Brisibe, who said the initiative would help address the difficulties faced by families who travel outside Bayelsa for cancer care.

The state government said the committee members were selected based on their professional experience and expertise.