Binaytara's Global Oncology Mission in Nigeria

Binaytara expanded its global oncology programs through a strategic partnership with Nigerian healthcare institutions to strengthen cancer care delivery at Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta and improve access for patients across Lagos. This initiative represents a transformative step in our mission to expand high-quality cancer care worldwide, closely aligning with our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan for global oncology advancement.

After a rigorous selection process evaluating leadership capabilities, institutional infrastructure, and healthcare delivery capacity, Binaytara established formal partnerships with Nigeria's leading medical institutions. This comprehensive evaluation included months of collaborative virtual meetings and extensive in-person assessments of hospital facilities and medical leadership teams.

From left to right (Dr. Rasaq Olaosebikan, Dr. Daniel Ezekwudo, and Dr. Binay Shah)

Binaytara's Scope of Collaboration with the Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta

The memorandum of understanding between Binaytara and FMC-Ebute Metta focuses on addressing cancer care challenges through three strategic pillars:

Infrastructure and Medical Safety:

• Provision of state-of-the-art chemotherapy infusion pumps enabling safe, precise drug administration at Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta.
• Comprehensive training programs ensuring international safety standards and clinical compliance protocols.
• Facility modernization support to meet global oncology safety benchmarks.

International Capacity Building and Oncology Training:

• Elite fellowship opportunities for Federal Medical Center physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals at leading international cancer centers.
• Multidisciplinary global oncology training with international exposure and certification programs.
• Collaborative program development with Binaytara's global health experts to enhance clinical efficiency.
• Specialized palliative care training programs for comprehensive patient support.

Healthcare System Strengthening at Federal Medical Center:

• Establishment of comprehensive cancer registries and preventive oncology programs.
• Development of specialized laboratory services and advanced immunohistochemistry capabilities.
• Technical support for Nigeria's premier annual global oncology conference.
• Implementation of predictive healthcare programs and integrated cancer care systems.

Dr. Binay Shah, president and co-founder of Binaytara, with leaders of FMC-Ebute Metta and Redeemer’s Health Village, highlighting the signed memorandum of understanding.

The Critical Need: Global Health Challenges in Nigerian Cancer Care

Nigeria's position as Africa's most populous nation amplifies the urgency of this global oncology partnership, given severe healthcare infrastructure limitations:

• Access Crisis at Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta: The Federal Medical Center serves over 40 million people in the state of Lagos through a single cancer center, creating critical overcrowding and severely limiting patient access to life-saving oncology care. Currently, Lagos has only four comprehensive cancer centers offering radiotherapy services, with three being private facilities that remain financially inaccessible to most patients.
• Advanced Disease Burden: More than 51% of patients arrive at Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta with Stage IV diagnoses, highlighting devastating gaps in early detection and community screening programs across Nigeria.
• Global Health Workforce Crisis: Nigeria's entire healthcare system operates with only 80 qualified cancer specialists, while the Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta faces acute shortages of oncologists, specialized oncology nurses, psycho-oncologists, and trained radiotherapy technicians.
• Infrastructure Deficits: Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta currently lacks essential specialized laboratory services, advanced immunohistochemistry capabilities, functional cancer registries, and access to innovative cancer therapies standard in global oncology practice.
• Financial Accessibility Barriers: Over 95% of Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta patients depend on direct out-of-pocket payments due to minimal health insurance coverage, creating insurmountable financial obstacles to accessing comprehensive cancer care.

Strategic Partnership: Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta and Redeemer Health Village

Binaytara’s global oncology initiative encompasses a dynamic partnership network centered on Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta while extending collaborative support to Redeemer Health Village. Dr. Adedamola Dada, who previously served as CEO of Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta and has recently transitioned to leadership at Redeemer Health Village, serves as a critical bridge between these institutions. While Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta maintains more extensive cancer care services and infrastructure, Redeemer Health Village is actively expanding its oncology capabilities through this partnership. Dr. Dada's dual institutional experience ensures knowledge transfer and best practices flow between both facilities, maximizing the global health impact across Nigeria's healthcare network. This interconnected approach allows Binaytara's global oncology expertise to strengthen multiple healthcare delivery points, creating a more robust cancer care ecosystem throughout Lagos and beyond.

Key Stakeholders in the Binaytara and Federal Medical Center-Ebute Metta Partnership

Lead Nigerian Healthcare Institutions:

• Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, Lagos - The Federal Medical Centre Ebute-Metta, originally established in 1964 as the Nigerian Railway Hospital, has evolved from serving railway workers to becoming a federal referral hospital. Today, it delivers affordable, patient-centered care with a focus on professionalism, transparency, and comprehensive health services.
• Redeemer Health Village - Redeemer’s Health Village is a 150-bed healthcare facility offering primary, secondary, and tertiary care across many medical specialties. Their center uses advanced medical technology, like a wide-bore MRI and a high-slice CT scanner, and aims to combine medical excellence with personalized, patient-focused service.

Leadership Team:

• Dr. Adedamola Dada - Former CEO of Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta, current Redeemer Health Village leadership
• Dr. Rasaq Olaosebikan, MD, MSc, FWACP, FAAP - Pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Milton S Hershey Medical Center and Assistant Professor at Pennsylvania State University
• Dr. Daniel Ezekwudo -Hematologist-Oncologist at Florida Cancer Specialists in Port Charlotte, Florida.
• Dr. Ajibike Orekoya - Clinical Oncologist and Head of Oncology Department at Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta.

Project Naija Global Oncology Working Group (PNOWG) - Federal Medical Center Initiative

The Project Naija Global Oncology Working Group represents an elite collaboration between Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta leadership, Binaytara global oncology leadership, and pioneering Nigerian American physicians who conceptualized this transformative Global Health initiative.

Key PNOWG Insights from Federal Medical Center Leaders:

Dr. Adedamola Dada, reflecting on sustainable global health impact, emphasized: "The importance of training over simply providing resources cannot be overstated - it's like teaching someone to fish rather than just giving them fish. This approach empowers our Federal Medical Center healthcare workers with modern practices and equipment, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes."

The PNOWG operates under a Memorandum of Understanding establishing detailed frameworks for training programs and international research collaboration. This structured approach ensures the Federal Medical Center partnership addresses immediate clinical needs while building long-term healthcare sustainability.

Through PNOWG leadership, this Binaytara is positioned to generate transformative ripple effects throughout Nigerian cancer care and across sub-Saharan Africa, establishing Federal Medical Center Ebute Metta as a regional center of excellence for comprehensive oncology treatment and dramatically improving access for underserved patient populations.

Aerial view of Lagos State, Nigeria