Foundation Trains Nigerians On Early Oral Cancer Detection

A nongovernmental organization in Nigeria, the Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation in collaboration with HKU-Dentistry Hong Kong has carried out a one-day oral cancer training in the country.

The training with the theme: ‘The Use Of Artificial Intelligence In Early Detection Of Oral Cancer And Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders’ was to create awareness in the early detection of oral cancers.

The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire says according to reports by Pan African Medical Journal, the burden of oral cancers in Nigeria has been reported to be 1,146 new cases with an estimated mortality of 764 annually.

Dr Ehanire who was represented by the Director Dentistry Division, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Gloria Uzoigwe said oral cancers remain the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Nigeria which according to her is due to the late report to the hospital and the inability of healthcare workers to detect the lesion and refer appropriately.

“This has caused a huge economic burden on the sufferers and their families and these could have been prevented if these lesions were detected early. Strengthening the capacity of our Doctors on the use of Artificial Intelligence for early detection of oral cancers is very apt at this time because this will go a long way towards reducing the burden of oral cancers and other related diseases in Nigeria’’ she said.

Dr Uzoigwe said the local communities are severely underserved in terms of oral health personnel and the Federal Ministry of Health has started training community health workers on prevention, early detection and prompt referral of oral diseases. ‘’A pilot has been done in Nasarawa State and we are having encouraging feedback, this will be stepped down to other communities and states’’ she added.

Artificial Intelligence 

A consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon and Executive Director, Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation, Abuja, Dr Seidu Bello said Artificial Intelligence, AI is in the rudimentary stage in the country and as a matter of fact, Artificial Intelligence is just coming up and it is been explored in different aspects of medicine, as well as other aspects of science.

“We want to use artificial intelligence to detect the human mind, and I’m sure you see some of this in social media. So if you ask what level we are now, I think I can say we are close to zero level’’ he said.

Dr Bello said that Artificial Intelligence is actually an advancement in technology where computers obtain information from a patient and predict with more than 90% accuracy, keep a better eye on such thereby picking up cancer in its infancy and curing appropriately.

Creating awareness

The Director, Department of Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilization, National Orientation Agency, NOA Mrs Theresa Maduekwe reiterated the agency’s commitment to creating awareness in schools through Traditional and Religious leaders to interface with citizens on the early detection of cancers and other ailments.

‘’NOA is going to continuously create awareness to sensitize Nigerians of the need to visit the hospital early and as soon as you notice any form of discomfort in any part of your body’’. 

The President, Nigeria Dental Association Dr Tope Adeyemi who was represented by the Secretary General of the Association, Dr Ukachi Nnawuihe said the association is concentrating on training and improving the professionalism of members through advocacy for universal oral health coverage for Nigeria.

“We are in contact with the National Health Insurance Authority where we contract with policymakers in order to ensure that all health is fully incorporated into the primary health care system so that Nigerians can have easy access to oral health especially those who are in underserved areas ’’ he said.

Oral disease has a significant impact on the health and well-being of affected individuals because they cause pain, increase morbidity and mortality and result in lost school hours and reduced socio-economic activities.