In 2024, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare signed an agreement to equip six cancer centers across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones with state-of-the-art radiotherapy systems. To ensure that the six cancer centers are prepared to utilize the new radiotherapy equipment, NSIA’s Advanced Medical Services Limited (Medserve) partnered with the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Center (now the Medserve LUTH Cancer Center, MLCC) and BVGH to implement a multi-modality training program for radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiotherapists, and nurses in Nigeria. In addition to eight weeks of hands-on training led by MLCC staff and a curated selection of digital lectures taught by Rayos Contra Cancer educators, BVGH organized one-week profession-specific training “capstones” taught by international experts.
Dr. Chidinma Anakwenze (MD Anderson), Ms. Loyda Braithwaite (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), Ms. Elaine Herbert (Stanford University), Dr. Anuja Jhingran (MD Anderson), and Dr. Joseph Weygand (Dartmouth College) traveled to Lagos, Nigeria where they gave tailored lectures and provided hands-on guidance on the use of advanced radiotherapy techniques.
“Providing local clinicians with advanced radiotherapy training is key to expanding access to high-quality cancer care,” said Ms. Elaine Herbert. “It was an honor to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to making a difference for their patients.”
This educational program was made possible through the sponsorship of Bayer AG MA-M_SOR-NG-0001-1