Dr Lola Adeyemi, Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Health on Research and Innovation
Dr Lola Adeyemi, a public health expert, has called on stakeholders to promote research in clinical trials for cancer control to enhance understanding of Nigeria’s unique cancer patterns.
Adeyemi, who is also the Special Adviser to the Minister of State for Health on Research and Innovation, made the call during a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
She said promoting clinical trial research was a critical part of cancer care as it would generate locally relevant data and interventions.
“It will make the difference that we really need for cancer control to succeed, and if we can embed cancer control into our Universal Healthcare Coverage (UHC) agenda, we will not only save lives.
“We will also reduce the burden, the long-term economic and social costs of the disease.”
Adeyemi noted that prevention remained the most powerful tool for cancer control and stressed that progress was possible with the right investments and strategies.
“If we scale up our screening services and diagnostics, ensure that everybody has access to screening for cancer, it’s cheaper and more affordable for us to do that, and then we can take care of those who have the burden of cancer.
“This is because the effects extend to their livelihoods, their families, and so on. So we must prioritise prevention and early detection, scaling up screening and diagnostics, and then research.”
On broader health matters, Adeyemi said innovation, data, and partnerships were the bridge between Nigeria’s current state and the resilient health system it deserves.
She acknowledged that healthcare delivery in Nigeria had recorded milestones but added that “there are still so many areas calling for improvement.”
Adeyemi, a physician-scientist and healthcare entrepreneur, emphasised the importance of primary healthcare as the foundation of a strong system.
“Primary healthcare is such an important part of what will make the Nigerian healthcare system better than it is today and everybody must have the right and privilege to care.
“We still have challenges with healthcare financing, so using technology to bridge the gaps will take us further.”
She, however, cautioned that healthcare delivery would not be successful if it remained a privilege rather than a universal right.
According to her, universal access must be the goal, powered by accountability and innovation.
She also highlighted the importance of integrating public-private partnership models to strengthen healthcare delivery.
“If we draw on models where the government provides the regulatory backbone and the private sector and non-profit actors innovate service delivery, then we can make healthcare work better.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeyemi hopes to use her experience to bridge healthcare disparities and advance equitable access to quality healthcare in Nigeria and other emerging markets.
(NAN)