FG Launches Nationwide Free Cancer Screening To Reduce Rising Death Toll
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to tackle Nigeria’s growing cancer burden with the launch of a nationwide free cancer screening programme aimed at early detection and reduction of cancer-related deaths.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, officially flagged off the initiative at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, over the weekend. He described cancer as a major public health challenge, noting that Nigeria currently records the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in Africa.
Dr. Salako disclosed that cancer-related deaths in the country have now surpassed fatalities from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined, attributing the trend largely to late diagnosis and delayed treatment.
According to him, the free screening exercise will cover 6,000 asymptomatic Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones, with a focus on breast, cervical and prostate cancers—the three most common cancers in Nigeria. The screening programme is expected to run throughout the month of February.
He explained that breast cancer has a global mortality rate of about 28 percent, while Nigeria’s figures remain significantly higher. Cervical cancer, which accounts for about 21 percent of cancer-related deaths both globally and locally, is largely preventable and curable if detected early. Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among men in Africa, while survival rates for childhood cancers continue to lag in low- and middle-income countries.
The Minister noted that the initiative aligns with the prevention-focused healthcare strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which emphasises cost-effective interventions in addressing diseases of public health importance. He added that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is addressing cancer risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and environmental pollution.
Dr. Salako further revealed that by late 2025, nearly 15 million girls aged nine to 14 years had received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationwide to protect against future cases of cervical cancer. He also highlighted the continued administration of the hepatitis B vaccine to prevent liver cancer.
He said the Ministry is working towards the establishment of a national cancer screening programme, with pilot preventive oncology clinics already operational in six centres across the country. Plans are also underway to integrate basic cancer screening services into primary healthcare centres before the end of President Tinubu’s first term in May 2027.
Assuring participants of quality service delivery, the Minister stated that FMC Abeokuta would be supported by specialists from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, to ensure effective screening and treatment.
Dr. Salako commended the Ogun State Government for providing an enabling environment for federal health institutions and praised the management of FMC Abeokuta for its leadership and commitment to healthcare delivery. He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the free screening exercise and adopt healthier lifestyles, stressing that early detection remains key to reducing cancer-related deaths nationwide.
