The Federal Government has expressed concern that Nigeria has not fully harnessed the potential of nuclear medicine in diagnosing and treating cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
This concern was raised by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, during a workshop in Abeokuta, Ogun State, organized by the National Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group. The workshop focused on developing a National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Guidelines.
Nuclear medicine is a specialised branch of medicine that uses radioactive tracers, also known as radiopharmaceuticals, to monitor bodily functions and detect or treat diseases.
Through specially designed imaging equipment, physicians can track the movement of these substances inside the body to aid in diagnosis and therapy.
Dr. Salako highlighted the alarming increase in cancer cases across the country and emphasised the urgent need for comprehensive solutions, including improved methods of management.
He pointed out that an estimated 60 to 70 per cent of Nigerians know someone who has been affected by cancer, underlining the scale of the challenge.
To address the issue, he said the Federal Government is implementing wide-ranging strategies for cancer prevention, treatment, and control.
One such effort includes the ongoing construction of six cancer centres of excellence across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. However, he acknowledged that a key area still underutilised in the nation’s healthcare system is nuclear medicine.
“Despite having a pool of skilled human resources in the field and existing collaborations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Nigeria has yet to fully explore the benefits of nuclear medicine in both diagnosis and treatment,” Salako noted.
He revealed that in February 2025, the Ministry established a technical working group made up of experts in the field to explore the best ways to incorporate nuclear medicine technologies and services into the healthcare system.
He reiterated that early detection—particularly through screening capable of identifying cancers at early or even precancerous stages—is critical for effective prevention and control.
The Chairman of the National Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group, Dr. Kehinde Ololade, explained that the committee was set up to design a national policy and guideline framework to ensure the efficient and safe application of nuclear medicine in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the event, Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, stressed the urgency of embracing nuclear medicine as a tool to reduce cancer-related deaths and illnesses.
“We can no longer afford to overlook cancer. Incorporating nuclear medicine is a vital step toward reversing the current trend,” she stated.