By Jones Miller
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has launched a nationwide cancer awareness and screening programme, aimed at addressing the growing burden of cancer in Nigeria.
The programme was officially flagged off in Abeokuta, with Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, announcing that 1,000 Nigerians from each geopolitical zone would benefit from the screening.
Speaking at the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Dr. Salako emphasized the government’s commitment to prevention as a key strategy in cancer control.
The screening initiative will focus on early detection and timely treatment, covering primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention levels.
Targeting individuals who have not previously been diagnosed, the programme will screen for prostate, cervical, and breast cancers, which are prevalent in Nigeria.
Salako highlighted that Nigeria’s breast cancer mortality rate is alarmingly high at 28%, far above the global average.
He pointed out that cancer kills more people in Nigeria than tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS combined, mainly due to late diagnosis and delayed treatment.
The minister also announced plans to establish a cancer centre in a tertiary institution by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first tenure.
The Medical Director of FMC Abeokuta, Dr. Titilola Ibiyemi, expressed gratitude for the hospital’s selection to host the screening exercise, recognizing its strategic importance in providing quality healthcare services.
