An international renowned medical expert, Professor Vincent Njar has linked the prevalence of prostate and breast cancers in Africa to slave trade.
Njar, a Nigerian who lectures at Maryland University, USA made the disclosure while delivering the First 2024 Distinguished Lecture organized by Lead City University, Ibadan recently.
The event was attended by Chancellor of the University, Professor Ogunmola, Vice Chancellor, Professor Kabir Adeyemo, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Olusola Ladokun and the Registrar, Dr. Oyebola Ayeni.
Njar, while speaking, declared that environmental factors are also responsible for why people in Africa and other black nations are prone to prostate and breast cancers.
Speaking on the topic: “A Journey in Academic Medical Chemistry: Biomolecular Therapeutics Approaches in Prostate, Pancreatic And Breast Cancers (Medical Chemistry and Drug Discovery: Ingenuity and Serendipity or Is It The Other Way Around?), Njar noted that research had shown that when people from Asia migrated from their original abode, the level of prostate and breast cancers increased.
Njar, who is a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology, said the majority of the drugs available for the treatment of prostate and breast cancers are meant to treat white patients because the whites always make themselves available for clinical trials whereas blacks normally shun clinical trials.
Njar, who is currently researching with strong financial support of Maryland University into a multi-million dollar drug called ‘Caleterone’ that will help in treatment of prostate and breast cancers, explained that it is for Nigeria as a giant in Africa to champion the finance of research that will help in the treatment of prostate and breast cancers and other life-threatening diseases in Africa.
While answering questions from the audience, Prof. Njar noted that the “Caribbean has the highest rate of deaths and patients of both prostate and breast cancers with researches showing that this is due to their long time association with slave trade.
“Nigeria, through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Health (NIH) should make funding available for research into drugs that will be black based for the cure of prostate and breast cancers respectively. ”
He debunked the allegation that the majority of patients die of the side effects of drugs taken in treatment of prostate and breast cancers , declaring that ”no drug is absolute without side effects.”
