By: Nzurumike Chimdiadi & Owoh Nneka .

Tuesday, 13th May 2025, Roche Products Limited, a pharmaceutical company, paid a courtesy visit to the management of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku/Ozalla Enugu and launched the Patient Navigation Program.

The team led by Terseer sar, Head Access and Policy, on arrival, was received by the Chief Medical Director represented by the Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee,(DCMAC), Asst. Prof. Salome Ezeofor.

The UNTH Management team, Navigation, ROCHE and Head, Information Dept. UNTH

The Director of UNTH Oncology Centre, Dr. Ken Nwankwo, introduced the team, which includes Terseer sar: Head Access and policy, Emeka Udowelle: Patient Journey Partner and Halima Okafor: Patient Engaged Specialist.

In his comment, the Head of Navigation unit, Dr. Okwo Vitalis, said they have been facing various challenges since the inception of Navigation in 2017.

From L-R: Dr. Vitalis Okwor, Radiation Oncology UNTH; Dr. Nwankwo Kenneth, Director of Oncology Centre, UNTH; Dr. Ukemenam Wilifred, D’CMAC Emergency Medicine and Out-patient, UNTH; Mrs. Uche Obi, Director of Administration, UNTH; D’CMAC Ass. Prof. Salome Ezeofor, rep. of CMD, UNTH; D’CMAC Dr. Nkiru Nwachukwu, rep. of C-MAC, UNTH; Pharm. Sar Terseer, Head of Access and Policy, ROCHE; Pharm. Okafor Halimat, Patient Engaged Specialist, ROCHE; and Pharm. Emeka Udowelle, Patient Journey Partner, ROCHE.Pharm. Emeka Udowelle, patient journey partner, Partner, ROCHE.

Sar Terserr who spoke on behalf of the team, said health care is the responsibility of all, and therefore their mission is to ensure that people with cancer are navigated towards a quality care system while ensuring good and sustained partnership with the Hospital in order to strengthen its patient navigation programme by ensuring all-round effectiveness and efficiency.
DCMAC Dr. Nkiru Nwachukwu and the DA, Mrs. Uche Obi, were present at the visit.

ROCHE presenting the donated items to UNTH Management

Items donated by ROCHE product Limited to the Oncology Centre includes
1 Three screening systems
2 Information booklets
3 Two roller banners
4 A cabinet and a promise of the sum of ₦30,000 worth of airtime monthly for calls to cancer patients.