- According to him, the policy, inaugurated in 2021, aims to institutionalize hospice and palliative care services across Nigeria
The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to reviewing the National Policy and Strategic Plan for Hospice and Palliative Care 2021 to enhance the quality of life for cancer patients.
The National Coordinator, National Cancer Control Programme, Dr Uchechukwu Nwokwu, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja, during an interview with NAN.
According to him, the policy, inaugurated in 2021, aims to institutionalize hospice and palliative care services across Nigeria, providing holistic support for individuals with serious health-related suffering, especially those near the end of life.
Nwokwu acknowledged the ongoing implementation of the policy but highlighted the need for a comprehensive review.
He stated, “We are very certain that by 2024, we will review the document and then review our level of implementation as a country and see what we can do to improve on it.”
Emphasizing the financial challenges associated with cancer care, he noted that the renewed hope agenda of the new government should address the palliative care needs of cancer patients and others requiring such services.
“Palliative care deals with terminal illnesses and not just cancer,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of institutionalizing palliative care for any illness with the potential to last for an extended period.
The policy outlines the integration of palliative care from the point of diagnosis to the end of life, involving psychosocial support and faith-based considerations.
Nwokwu further highlighted the goal of integrating hospice and palliative care services at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of care.
This approach, according to him ensures that patients receive appropriate care at each stage of their illness.
He also stressed the need to raise awareness and improve diagnostic capabilities at healthcare facilities to detect diseases early, enabling prompt and effective treatment.
He underscored the importance of training healthcare professionals and establishing hospice centers to provide specialized care for patients requiring palliation and the integration of palliative care into the healthcare system
“The overarching aim is to offer individuals with terminal illnesses a fair quality of life,” he said.