FG launches nationwide cancer awareness, screening programme in Abeokuta
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, on Friday launched a nationwide cancer awareness and screening programme in Abeokuta, pledging to establish a cancer centre in a tertiary institution before the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term.
According to the minister, about 1,000 Nigerians are expected to benefit from the screening exercise in each geopolitical zone across the country.
He stated that the programme aligns with the federal government’s focus on prevention, which remains the most effective and cost-efficient approach to controlling cancer.
The initiative will cover primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, as well as early detection and timely treatment. Salako added that the screening will target individuals who have not been previously diagnosed with cancer.
“Cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Africa, with Nigeria bearing the highest burden in terms of incidence and mortality,” the minister said.
“The goal is to screen 1,000 people per zone, focusing on prostate, cervical, and breast cancers, with an emphasis on early detection and treatment.”
According to global statistics, cancer kills more people than tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS combined. In Nigeria, the breast cancer mortality rate stands at 28 per cent, above the global average.
