• NICRAT updates screening equipment, consumables, holds capacity building workshop for health workers
From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
Acting Deputy Director, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr. Nandi Ishaya, says cancer has continued to pose a growing threat to public health in Nigeria, with thousands of lives lost each year due to late detection and limited access to preventive and diagnostic services.
He explained that the Institute established in 2017 by the Federal Government, but became operational in 2023, has been saddled with the responsibility to lead, coordinate, and support evidence-based interventions that will reduce the cancer burden across Nigeria.
Ishaya spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the capacity building workshop on cervical and breast cancer, while presenting screening equipment to the state government. He represented Director-General, NICRAT, Dr. Usman Malami.
He said the Institute had carried out mapping and strengthening of cancer preventive services in Odeda and Ado-Odo/Ota local governments: “Efforts to reduce the cancer burden must begin at the grassroots. The cancer screening tools including visual inspection kits, clinical breast exam tools, and relevant consumables are essential for ensuring that cancer screening is not just a theory, but a daily, accessible service for the people.
“The initiative equally aligns with the broader goals of the National Cancer Control Plan and the Universal Health Coverage Agenda, to decentralise and democratise access to life-saving health services across all geopolitical zones and underserved communities.
“We are embarking on a comprehensive mapping of healthcare facilities in Odeda and Ado-Odo/Ota LGs. This exercise is not merely about counting facilities, it is about identifying gaps, understanding capacity and building a data-driven foundation for targeted cancer interventions.
“We must know where services are available, where they are not and how best to reach those who need them the most. We are investing in the capacity building of healthcare workers in this area. Our nurses, doctors, and community health workers are the first line of defence in the fight against cancer.
“By training them to identify early signs of cancers such as breast, cervical, and prostate cancer and refer appropriately, we empower them to save lives. Prevention and early detection must be integrated into primary healthcare, and this training is a critical part of that strategy.
“We are donating basic cancer screening equipment and consumables to selected facilities in Odeda and Ado-Odo/Ota. These tools including visual inspection kits, clinical breast exam tools, and relevant consumables are essential for ensuring that cancer screening is not just a theory but a daily, accessible service for our people.”
Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Health, Dr. Tayo Lawal, said: “The initiative is a partnership capable of helping the state greatly in its fight against cancer. Cancer is a deadly disease.”
He assured NICRAT that the basic “screening equipment will be maintained and used for the purpose of preventing the disease, especially in the local communities.”