Project Pink Blue, a cancer fighting foundation has called on the federal government to develop strict measures to protect people living with underlying conditions with concerns that they are extremely vulnerable to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Project PINK BLUE said cancer patients and other people with underlying conditions at a higher and increased risk of catching or dying from COVID-19 and urged government to urgently procure telemedicine to care for them.
The foundation identified other people with these conditions to include; people living with lung conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); heart diseases such as heart failure; chronic kidney disease, liver disease such as hepatitis, diabetes, people living with spleen problems like sickle cell disease or have their spleen removed, people with weakened immune system as the result of conditions as HIV and AIDS, steroid tablets or chemotherapy as well as people who are overweight (having BMI of 40 or more).
“Some cancer treatments including chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and radiation can weaken the immune system. People who have weakened immune systems have a much higher risk of complications if they become infected with this coronavirus.
“People with cancer that has metastasized (spread) to the lungs also can have lung problems that may get worse as a result of coronavirus infection. said Runcie Chidebe, Executive Director, Project PINK BLUE.
Chidebe stressed that cancer patients may have the worse outcome, higher risk of severe events than people without cancer”.
“Project PINK BLUE called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Health, Presidential Task Force on Covid19 andthe Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to take strict measures to protect and shield this extremely vulnerable people.
It also commends all oncology workforces across Nigeria taking extra measures to speak to cancer patients on phone and care for them in this moment of uncertainty.
Godsgift Onyedinefu, Abuja
