Abeokuta (Nigeria): The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, on Saturday launched a nationwide cancer awareness and screening programme in Abeokuta.
Speaking at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Salako said 1,000 Nigerians would benefit from the screening exercise in each of the country’s geopolitical zones.
He explained that the programme demonstrates the Federal Government’s emphasis on prevention as the most effective and cost-efficient approach to cancer control.
The minister said the initiative would cover primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention, focusing on early detection and timely treatment.
Salako noted that the screening targets individuals who have not previously received a cancer diagnosis.
He raised concerns that Nigeria’s breast cancer mortality rate is 28 per cent, which is significantly above the global breast cancer mortality rate average.
“Cancer remains a significant public health challenge in Africa. Nigeria bears the highest burden for both incidence and mortality.
“The goal is to screen 1,000 people per zone. The focus is on prostate, cervical, and breast cancers, with early detection and treatment,” Salako said.
According to the Minister, cancer causes more annual deaths in Nigeria than tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS combined, highlighting the severity of its impact.
“Deaths are higher in our environment than in the Western world due to late diagnosis and delayed treatment,” he said.
Salako pledged to establish a cancer centre in a tertiary institution before President Bola Tinubu’s first tenure ends.
The Medical Director of FMC Abeokuta, Dr Titilola Ibiyemi, thanked the Federal Government for selecting the hospital for the exercise.
Ibiyemi said the choice reflected the centre’s strategic importance and confidence in its capacity to deliver quality healthcare services. She expressed optimism that the initiative would mark a turning point in cancer prevention and treatment across Nigeria.
