By Emmanuel Emeka
Project PINK BLUE – Health & Psychological Trust Centre has called on the Federal Government to establish a national cancer screening program to reduce late detection and cancer-related deaths in Nigeria.
The call was made at a World Cancer Day 2026 commemoration event, featuring a 5km walk, 20km cycling, and 10km run against cancer, organized by Project PINK BLUE at Transcorp Hilton, by the organisation on Saturday in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the Programme Associate of Project PINK BLUE, Ms. Faridah M. Banwo, raised concerns over the rising cost of cancer treatment in the country, noting that many patients are forced to choose between basic survival needs and accessing medication.
“We are using this World Cancer Day commemoration with the theme United by Unique to spotlight the salient unique issues faced by Nigerian cancer patients. Today, several patients are considering whether to buy food and eat or to buy their cancer medication,” Banwo said.
She added that family caregivers are often pushed into financial hardship, selling personal assets to enable their loved ones access chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Banwo called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to increase budgetary allocation to the Cancer Health Fund, while urging state governments to establish cancer health funds and trusts to support indigent patients across the country.
Providing data on the cancer burden in Nigeria, the Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE, Runcie C.W. Chidebe, disclosed that 127,763 new cancer cases and 79,542 deaths were recorded in 2022, with about 62 percent of diagnosed patients dying from the disease.
“In Nigeria, 127,763 new cases of cancer and 79,542 deaths were recorded in 2022. Painfully, about 62% of Nigerians diagnosed with cancer died of the disease,” Chidebe said.
He attributed the high mortality rate to late detection, limited oncology workforce, poor access to care, poverty, and systemic failures within the healthcare system, stressing that patients should not be blamed for late diagnosis.
“We must stop blaming the cancer patients and start blaming the healthcare system. If we want to reduce cancer death and increase early detection, we must create a system that propels early detection,” he stated.
Chidebe further urged the Federal Government to implement an organized national cancer screening program, noting that Nigeria currently operates sporadic and uncoordinated screenings.
“The Federal Government should implement an organized national cancer screening program. Presently, Nigeria does not have a national and organized cancer screening; what we have is sporadic screenings,” he said.
He referenced the success of national HIV/AIDS screening initiatives, expressing confidence that a similar approach could significantly reduce cancer-related deaths if adopted.
Project PINK BLUE is a cancer-focused organization engaged in awareness creation, patient navigation, advocacy, research, and psychological support, with a mission to reduce cancer incidence and late detection across Nigeria
