By Peter Adelowo
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to cancer prevention and care through a strategic partnership with the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination.
In a statement to mark World Cancer Day, the FCT Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, says the collaboration aims to improve access to cancer care, enhance public health interventions, and protect women in the FCT from the deadly disease.
The statement underscores the importance of joint efforts in ensuring equitable and compassionate cancer care.
It notes that this year’s theme, “United by Unique,” aligns with the FCT’s people-centered healthcare approach including free HPV vaccinations for girls aged 9-14, Pap smear screenings in all FCT hospitals, and training for primary healthcare workers in cervical cancer detection.
The statement describes the recent visit of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination, led by former Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole, as timely.
It emphasizes that the FCT will leverage the task force’s expertise and resources to strengthen its cervical cancer prevention programmes.
‘’The FCT was selected as the first state for engagement by the national taskforce due to its outstanding performance and commitment to various healthcare initiatives,underscoring the need for collective action to ensure success of the advocacy campaign,’’ she adds.
According to the statement,
Citing global statistics, the Mandate Secretary states that in 2022, there were approximately 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths worldwide, with Nigeria recording an estimated 127,000 new cases and 79,000 deaths.
It adds that to address these challenges, the FCT implemented multiple interventions, including colposcopy screening at Wuse District Hospital, chemotherapy services at Asokoro District Hospital, and statewide cancer prevention programs in collaboration with the City Cancer Foundation.
“Despite these efforts, late-stage diagnosis, limited treatment facilities, and lack of awareness continue to drive high mortality rates”
The statement stresses the need to combat stigma, misinformation, and delayed treatment and revealed that the FCTA is working towards establishing fully equipped cancer centers to expand access to affordable care, particularly for underserved communities.
