Breast Cancer: More Investments In Medical Imaging Will Reduce Mortality – Radiology Expert

By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos

A Professor of Radiology of the Lagos State University (LASU), Rachael Adeyanju Akinola has called for more investments in improving women’s awareness of and access to medical Imaging to reduce breast cancer mortality in Nigeria.

Akinola made the call while delivering her paper Monday, 15th Dec at the university’s main Campus, Lagos with title “My Eyes Have Seen Inside, Out: Scrolling Through The Black, The White and The Colour Maze.

Akinola revealed that Mammography and mammographic screening are relatively new breast imaging modalities in the developing world, stressing that it is the only mode of screening that has been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality.

However, she added that only 40% of women in Lagos have heard about this procedure; 31% are aware of mammographic screening and 4.8% have done mammography, thus confirming the low level of awareness of mammography and mammographic screening in the state

“This underutilization of mammography and mammographic screening is most likely due to lack of public awareness, financial constraints, scarce mammographic equipment and trained technicians to operate them as well as ineffective,” she said.

As part of her recommendations, the radiology expert said that the cost of screenings should be subsidized to make them affordable for and to all women and public education and awareness programmes should be develoed to promote early diagnosis.

“My department is heavily equipment-dependent, forever rapidly evolving and capital intensive. It would therefore be economically, socially and politically apt to put all hands on deck by involving bodies that will financially support the healthcare in this regard, particularly in equipment acquisition and maintenance, training and research grants.” She posited.

“The Public Private Participation is a must-do in Medical imaging in Nigeria. This will help take a lot of burden off the shoulders of the governments and their meagre resources. Our hospitals must be adequately equipped, to help fuel more qualitative pieces of research,” she said.

Profiling Akinola, the Vice Chancellor, LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun SAN stated that the radiology expert was a Senior Lecturer and the pioneer Head of the Department of Radiology, 2003.

“She led her department in preparing for various accreditation visits by the Faculty of Radiology, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) and West African College of Surgeons (WACS), Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and National Universities Commission (NUC).”

“She has about 65 publications to my credit. These include chapters in four books, one of which is the first book on MRI written by reputable Nigerian and Ghanaian Radiologists, edited by Prof. D.O. Nzeh and published in Nigeria,” he said.