U.S. President Joe Biden has recognised the contribution of famous oncologist of Ghanaian origin, Edjah Nduom, to the fight against cancer.
Dr Edjah Nduom is the son of Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, a renowned Ghanaian business mogul and politician.
Doctor, I love you,” the U.S. President told Edjah Nduom at the launch of the federal Cancer Moonshot Research Programme on Wednesday, February 2, 2022.
Dr Edjah Nduom will lead the fight against cancer under the Cancer Moonshot Research Programme.
President Biden relaunched his cancer “moonshot,” programme on Wednesday to help the scientific community accelerate its quest to reduce the disease’s deadly toll over the next 25 years.
Biden said the goal of the programme was to cut cancer’s death rates by at least 50% and to improve the experiences of those battling it. He called the initiative a “presidential priority” and said its goals were achievable thanks to scientific breakthroughs during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Just as we harnessed science to develop cutting-edge COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, we will bring a sense of urgency in the fight against cancer,” Biden said.
The Biden administration’s first actions will include creating a “cancer Cabinet” of federal departments and agencies to better focus the government’s efforts on the disease and to host a gathering of public and private groups to discuss innovations in treatment. The White House said Biden would name a coordinator to work out of the executive office to oversee the effort.
Dr. Edjah Nduom introduced Joe Biden at Wednesday’s announcement at the White House, calling him the country’s “patient advocate-in-chief.”
“From my vantage point, as a neurosurgeon scientist, constantly thinking of ways to treat cancer patients, to fight cancer and seeing countless patients every year, I can confidently say this is the most exciting moment in the history of our field,” Dr Edjah Nduom said.
Dr Edjah Nduom was instrumental in efforts to save Mr Biden’s late son, Beau Biden, and WSBTV news anchor, Jovita Moore, who all died from different cancer complications.
Speaking to the U.S.-based WSBTV, Dr Nduom said Joe Biden’s Moonshot programme is a great victory for early detection of cancer.
“I think we can do better for patients like Beau Biden, for Jovita Moore. I know we can and what we need to get better outcomes for them is new treatments,” he explained.
“And the way we get to new treatments, dramatically new treatments, is by taking a leap of faith and by coming up with new approaches. Things we haven’t thought of before and approaching these cancers in a completely new way. And this Moonshot Initiative is what is going to give us the resources to do that,” he said.
Dr. Edjah Nduom is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine.
Source: primenewsghana
