The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has endowed a Professorial Chair in Oncology in a bid to enhance the study and treatment of cancer at the University of Port Harcourt UNIPORT.
Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, the acting Managing Director of the commission, made the disclosure at the opening of the 59th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Rivers.
Brambaifa said the NDDC is passionate in its quest to provide access to quality healthcare as well as promote healthy practices in the region.
According to him: “So, NDDC will endow a Professional Chair in Oncology in UNIPORT. This follows a similar endowment of a professorial chair in malaria research for the same university in 2016.
“Our mission is to facilitate sustainable development of the region with the intent to improve the health and well-being of the people.
“NDDC is intervening in healthcare delivery through the provision of infrastructure and providing access to free healthcare to more indigent communities in the region,”.
He explained that the new management after taking office in 2018 resumed the defunct free healthcare programme to communities.
“The programme has been one of the most significant interventions by NDDC. So far, free healthcare has treated over 1.2 million documented patients.
“The treatment ranges from simple diagnosis to complicated surgeries carried out in about 3,500 communities with 6,000 referral cases,” he added.
Brambaifa assured the people of the commission’s willingness to partner with NMA to bring quality healthcare services to communities.
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers commended NDDC for partnering with the medical association to conduct medical outreach programmes for people living with disabilities in the state.
Represented by the Deputy Gov. Ipalibo Banigo, Wike said studies had shown that social factors, such as lifestyle, education, housing, agriculture and environment played a major role in living condition.
On his part, Rivers branch Chairman of NMA, Dr Obelebra Adebiyi, said that non-communicable diseases were the leading causes of death in the world.
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“Diseases of long duration and slow progression can only be managed through behavioural change and adoption of a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
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