NIGERIA HAS HIGHEST CANCER RELATED DEATHS IN AFRICA- DR. TEMBE
Nigeria has the highest number of cancer related deaths in Africa, with about 10,000 cancer deaths and 250,000 new cases each year, according to Dr. Emmanuel Tembe, a university don.
Tembe, who disclosed this in a lecture titled “Beating the Plastic Pollution” to mark this year’s World Environment Day at the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi (FUAM), said that cancer related deaths are increasing in urban areas and cities, with pollution and chemical exposure being major risk factors.
He explained further that plastics used in wrapping hot foods, water and other substances are liable to cause cancer, stressing that when hot, plastics emit carcinogenic substances which cause cancer in humans.
While stating that Nigeria suffers the world’s greatest malaria disease burden, with approximately 51 million cases and 207,000 deaths annually, Tembe added that plastic refuse serve as breeding ground for disease vectors like mosquitoes and flies.
“Mosquitoes are the spreaders of malaria. Flies are related to diarrhea diseases in under-5 children,” Tembe said, quoting UNICEF 2016 survey which found that diarrhea causes approximately 150,000 deaths among under-5 children annually.
Earlier in an opening address, Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Richard Kimbir, said the program was organized to join forces with the United Nations and other concerned individuals in fighting the scourge of plastic pollution and its devastating effects on humanity.
Source – SUN NEWS
