Nigeria joined the world on Wednesday to mark World Cancer Day, with health leaders urging faster action on early detection, fairer access to care and more funding for research and screening.
Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, president of the Nigerian Cancer Society, said the day is “more than a date on the calendar” and called for national resolve to help people living with cancer.
“To every one of them, we say: you are seen, you are not alone, and your lives matter,” he said at a pre-World Cancer Day briefing in Abuja.
The event used the global theme “United by Unique” to stress that every cancer journey is different but that Nigerians must act together to lower deaths and improve survival.
Prof. Omonisi warned that many patients still arrive for treatment too late because of limited screening, high costs and stigma.
“For too many Nigerians, the cancer journey is made harder than it should be by late diagnosis,” he said.
Government and partners announced a range of activities across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Plans include free breast, prostate and cervical screenings, public lectures, cancer walks and regional rallies that will run through 28th February.
Organisers also said eight national screening clinics will begin offering services from basic exams to mammography and other specialised tests.
Health officials asked the federal and state governments to increase funding and integrate cancer services into primary care so patients can be diagnosed earlier and treated faster.
The Nigerian Cancer Society pledged to keep pushing for “equitable care, protection of patients’ rights, promotion of early detection and support for research and capacity building.”
