Idowu Abdullahi
The Nigerian Cancer Society has urged governments at all levels to prioritise rural communities and internally displaced persons camps in cancer interventions across the country.
The society noted that it had become imperative for the governments to look inward and include the vulnerable in their interventions to prevent and curb the cancer burden in Nigeria.
The NSC explained that most people who present cancer cases late are people in rural communities, adding that the move would help early screening and treatment.
In a statement on Wednesday to commemorate the 2026 World Cancer Day made available to PUNCH Healthwise, the NCS President, Prof Abidemi Omonisi, said the insurgency in the northern part of the country has displaced many Nigerians, adding that those in IDP camps are often not considered for cancer interventions.
According to him, many cancer interventions from governments at all levels are concentrated primarily in state capitals and urban centres.
“The people in the rural communities are usually left out, and sadly, the internally displaced persons in the various camps are often completely forgotten.
“Governments must prioritize these groups; we must get to the rural communities where the majority of the late cases of cancer are seen,” he urged.
World Cancer Day is commemorated on February 4 every year to raise awareness of the non-communicable disease and how to prevent, detect, or treat it.
The theme for 2026 is “United by Unique.”
According to the Global Cancer Observatory 2022, Nigeria had 127,763 new cancer cases, 79,542 deaths, and 269,109 prevalent cases in five years.
The World Health Organisation says prostate, breast, cervical, colorectal, and liver cancers are the leading cancers among males and females in the country.
Furthermore, Omonisi, who is a consultant anatomic pathologist, said the NCS was already leading the way through its Free Cancer Screening project to rural communities, and underprivileged Nigerians and those in the IDP camps.
“We are sourcing funds to purchase and deploy mobile cancer screening and treatment vans to the six geopolitical zones to service the rural communities and underprivileged Nigeria,” he said.
He urged the governments and other relevant stakeholders to move toward action, equity, and impact in reducing the cancer burden in Nigeria.
“Let us replace fear with facts, silence with conversation, and delay with early care. Let us build a Nigeria where a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence, and where access to quality care does not depend on where you live or how much you earn,” he added.
He explained that cancer is not just a medical condition; it is a human experience.
“It affects how people live, work, love, and dream. Behind every statistic is a person: a mother trying to stay strong for her children, a young man facing an unexpected diagnosis, a family navigating fear and uncertainty, a survivor rebuilding life after treatment,” Omonisi said.
He noted that for many Nigerians, the cancer journey is made harder than it should be by late diagnosis and limited access to screening.
Other factors, he said, include high out-of-pocket costs, stigma, and unequal access to quality care.
“This is not acceptable. The truth is: many cancers are preventable. Many are treatable. And many lives can be saved if we act early, act together, and act decisively,” he said.
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