By Sola Ogundipe
Towards boosting cancer care and dispelling common myths and misconceptions that fuel poor outcomes among cancer patients in Nigeria, a group of Nigerian medical researchers have called for the formal training and integration of chaplains into Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The researchers who conducted a review assessment of cancer epidemiology titled “The Roles of Chaplains in Dispelling Cancer Myths in Nigeria: A Narrative Review” reported that chaplains can bridge the cancer management gap by providing counseling, advocacy, education, and psycho-social support.
The research was a joint work conducted by Dr. Afeez A. Salami of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Cephas Health Research Initiative Inc, Ibadan.
He worked with Dr. Kehinde K. Kanmodi of the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Cephas Health Research Initiative Inc, Ibadan, the School of Dentistry, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda and School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.
Also part of the research was Dr Jimoh Amzat of the Department of Sociology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, and Department of Sociology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South AfricaThe experts who noted that the burden of cancer in Nigeria has risen significantly in recent decades, lamented that cultural beliefs, misinformation, and spiritual misconceptions remain major barriers to early cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The review discusses the epidemiological burden of cancer in Nigeria, common myths and misconceptions, and the critical roles that chaplains and spiritual leaders can play in education, counseling, advocacy, and psychosocial support.
The authors argued that even though chaplains are uniquely positioned to challenge harmful myths and guide patients toward evidence-based care, their impact is currently limited by factors including inadequate training, lack of recognition within the healthcare system, and scarce resources.Calling for urgent reforms, the authors argued for structured training programmes for the chaplains, including sensitisation of healthcare providers, and the formal incorporation of chaplaincy practice into Nigeria’s hospitals.These steps, they noted, would strengthen cancer awareness campaigns, improve patient trust, and reduce delays in seeking treatment.“Cancer imposes fear and uncertainties on patients and their families and people adapt to these situations with the help of chaplains or spiritual leaders. Though there is a lack of consensus on what constitutes spirituality and chaplaincy in literature, authors have provided some explanations for understanding.“Cancer myths abound and Chaplains have roles to play in dispelling myths associated with cancer in Nigeria and their incorporation into the Nigeria healthcare system will be very crucial.“Chaplains will be instrumental in the counseling and motivation of patients against cancer myths and misconceptions in Nigeria. This will promote early cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.”Chaplains have been found to educate members of the community by interfacing between cultural/religious traditions and healthcare. They train community religious leaders, clergy, seminarians, and so forth, and develop a congregational health ministry for appropriate community orientation.This orientation will further empower the members of the local community and their leaders to promote advocacy against the propagation of cancer myths and misconceptions within the community. This will therefore limit late cancer presentations in hospitals.In their recommendations, the authors noted, “Chaplaincy has been employed in schools, prisons, the military, and so forth but its deployment in the Nigerian healthcare system is still undesirable. Chaplains have numerous roles in the Nigerian healthcare system, especially in end-of-life care and dispelling myths,” they noted.
The post Chaplains are key to dispelling cancer myths in Nigeria — Research appeared first on Time.i.ng.
