TL;DR:
- The Federal Government of Nigeria highlights the need to improve medical professionals’ ability to use AI for early oral cancer detection.
- One thousand one hundred forty-six new cases of oral cancer are reported annually, leading to 764 deaths, making oral cancer a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the country.
- A training event in Abuja was organized by the Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation (CFDF) and the University of Hong Kong to educate on the use of AI for early oral cancer detection.
- Healthcare workers, NGOs, international and local partners, and other relevant stakeholders are crucial in addressing the oral cancer crisis.
- Late reporting and healthcare workers’ inability to detect and refer lesions appropriately result in a significant economic burden on sufferers and their families.
- CFDF and the University of Hong Kong’s partnership aim to advance early oral cancer detection through AI and the training of Nigerian professionals.
Main AI News:
The Nigerian Federal Government has highlighted the pressing need to enhance the competency of medical professionals in utilizing Artificial Intelligence for the early detection of oral cancers. According to the Pan African Medical Journal, 1,146 new cases of oral cancer are reported annually nationwide, leading to 764 fatalities, making oral cancer one of the primary causes of cancer-related deaths in the country.
Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire recently spoke at a training event in Abuja, organized by the Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation (CFDF) and the University of Hong Kong, on the use of AI for early oral cancer detection and premalignant disorders. He emphasized the crucial role of healthcare workers, NGOs, international and local partners, and other relevant stakeholders in combating the oral cancer crisis.
Representing Dr. Ehanire, Dr. Gloria Uzoigwe, Director of the Dentistry Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, stressed that oral cancers remain a major cause of cancer-related deaths due to late reporting and the inability of healthcare workers to detect and refer lesions appropriately. This has resulted in a significant economic burden on sufferers and their families, which could have been prevented with early detection.
Dr. Seidu Bello, Executive Director of CFDF, emphasized the impact of their partnership with the University of Hong Kong, established in 2022 under the Knowledge Exchange Funding Scheme for Strategic Impact, which aims to advance early oral cancer detection. Dr. Bello stated that AI has the potential to significantly aid in early detection and ultimately, through training, empower Nigerian professionals in utilizing AI to save lives.
Conlcusion:
The advancement of AI in early oral cancer detection presents a significant opportunity for the healthcare industry in Nigeria. The Federal Government’s recognition of the need for enhanced competency in AI utilization and the Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation’s (CFDF) partnership with the University of Hong Kong to advance early detection and train Nigerian professionals are positive steps toward addressing the oral cancer crisis and reducing its impact on the economy. The market potential for AI in the healthcare sector in Nigeria is substantial, providing a promising outlook for investment and growth in the field.
