Professor of Haematology and Immunology, Prof Muheez Durosinmi, has stated that leukemia is a deadly cancer disease with the chances of survival slim.
This was stated by Professor Durosinmi of the Haematology and Immunology Department, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife at the valedictory lecture he delivered to mark his retirement from the services of the University as well as the launch of his book and his birthday celebration.
The lecture was titled: “Evolution of Treatment for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) in Nigeria,” and was held at the Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Thursday.
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While speaking on the theme, the highly respected medical practitioner said that chronic myelogenous leukemia is the commonest of the leukemic myeloproliferative neoplasms.
Durosinmi explained that outside a successful stem cell transplantation, which is available to less than 45% of patients, there had been no reliable potentially curative treatment until the arrival of the magic drug, Glivec (Imatinib) and allied tryosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).
Durosinmi said, the first set of CML patients in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) Ile-Ife were treated between 1986 and 1999 and comprised 42 patients: 27 males, 15 females and age range of 12-74.
“The disease stage at diagnosis, presenting clinical features, laboratory parameters and drug history were noted for each patient.
“Survival of each patient was computed from the date of initiating chemotherapy to the date of death or the date the patient was last seen alive,” he stated.
He recommended that every effort should be made to improve patients’ adherence to therapy as a means of improving and achieving enduring molecular response.
Durosinmi also suggested that the ongoing decentralisation process for accessing drugs across the country should be further aggressively pursued to ease access of many more individuals to the drug.
In his speech delivered at the occasion, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, the Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University and Chairman of the occasion, said that Professor Durosinmi has carved a niche for himself in the field of Haematology and Immunology.
The book titled: A Design of Handbook of Haemato-Oncology Therapy for Medical Practitioners and Resident Doctors written by the celebrant was launched after the valedictory lecture at the Chris Ogunbanjo Hall of the University.
The colourful ceremonies were witnessed by the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola, Laminisa 1, the Academia, captains of industry, religious leaders, friends, family and well-wishers of the retiring Professor.
