By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako has disclosed plans by the Federal Government to establish and upgrade six Federal Teaching Hospitals with new Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Facilities across the country, as it also explores unique approach to cancer care through health insurance coverage.
He made the revelation during his address at the commemoration of the 2025 World Cancer Day.
The Minister, who was present at the event, stated that there was the need for concerted effort to ensure prevention and control of cancer.
He said: “the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) at the first World Summit Against Cancer in 2000 in Paris, declared 4th February every year as the World Cancer Day.
“The annual commemoration of the World Cancer Day provides UN member States, including Nigeria, national and multinational cancer organizations and indeed all opinion leaders around the world with the opportunity to showcase their various efforts in improving the quality of life of cancer patients through advancement and increased investment in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and research.
“The theme of the 2025 World Cancer Day ‘United by Unique’ with emphasis on “United in our goals, Unique in our needs”, is apt and timely as it seeks to address the need for unity of purpose to ensure prevention of preventable cancers and treat the treatable ones based on our unique strategies and peculiarities.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has recorded several unique achievements in our quest to address cancer challenges in the country ranging from primary prevention through vaccination, early detection, prompt treatment and Research.
“It is pertinent to note that the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) is leading the Human Papilloma virus vaccination for primary prevention of cancer of the Cervix as well as the Hepatitis immunization for prevention of liver cancers thus focusing preventive attention on the second and fouth most common cancers in Nigeria. While the vaccination for viral hepatitis has been on the National Programme on immunization, HPV Vaccination was commenced in 2023.
“It is heartwarming to note that we have successfully immunized over 12 million girls for Human Papilloma virus and effort is ongoing to improve on the successes recorded so far. I hereby enjoin parents, opinion leaders and indeed all stakeholders to take advantage of the immunization programmes to prevent these vaccine preventable cancers.
He noted that the Nigerian government was also exploring a unique approach to cancer care through health insurance coverage for cancers.
Stating that in accordance with the National Health Insurance Authority Act 2022, the NHIA has developed a robust concept note and implementation plan for Catastrophic Health Insurance, which shall support patients with end stage renal diseases, sickle cell disease and cancers. The Catastrophic Health Insurance will benefit from the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and other funding mechanisms within the NHIA. The Ministry will give NHIA all the necessary support to seamlessly implement the Catastrophic Health Insurance.
“It is also pertinent to note that the Federal Ministry Health and Social Welfare is upscaling its efforts to improve access to cancer care services in all the Federal Tertiary Hospitals for prompt diagnosis and comprehensive treatment.
“I am happy to announce that sequel to the approval of Mr. President, we have finalized plans to establish and upgrade 6 Federal Teaching Hospitals with new Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine facilities across the country.
“Three of the centers are planned to be commissioned in May, 2025 and the remaining 3 will be commissioned on or before the 2026 World Cancer Day. We intend to sustain this initiative throughout the life span of this administration so that before 2030, every part of this country would have been equipped to treat all forms of cancers. This is our unique strategy to attain the WHO global target of eliminating cervical cancer and other preventable cancers by the year 2030.
“The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) is working to ease of access to the cancer health fund and expand its scope in terms of the types of cancers covered and the health institutions where they can be accessed.
He also stated that one of the major areas of disease management including cancer care in which Nigeria is still lagging behind was in the area of Nuclear Medicine services.
“As a country we developed very robust initiatives including partnering with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to develop Nuclear Medicine programme in Nigeria. The National Nuclear Medicine Management Committee that was set by the Ministry in 2010 did their best and facilitated training of several Nuclear Medicine physicians and other allied healthcare professionals.
“However, due to lack of requisite infrastructure, we have lost more than half of the trained physicians to other countries. In our commitment to ensure health security, I have approved the reconstitution of the National Nuclear Medicine Technical Working Group to serve as an advisory body to the Ministry on development and implementation of Nuclear Medicine services in the country. This will also strengthen our collaborative efforts with the IAEA and other international agencies.
Also speaking, Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, the Director-General of National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), stated that relentless efforts are critical in ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against cancer.
He revealed that NICRAD was building research capacity across selected institutions in the six geopolitical zones, pioneering collaborative research in cancer genomics.
“This initiative is set to mark genetic mutation of common cancers in the country, laying a solid foundation for precision oncology care, not only in Nigeria, but for the entire Black race. As we mark World Cancer Week 2025, NICRAD is poised to consolidate this achievement and embark on a new initiative”
As part of the 2025 World Cancer Day commemoration, the Minister, Dr. Salako inaugurated the newly constituted NM-TWG, carefully selected to involve Nuclear Medicine Physicians, relevant training, regulatory institutions and agencies involved in cancer care, financing and research bodies, civil society groups, equipment manufacturers, other relevant professional bodies and cancer advocates.
