The Federal Government has urged African nations to deepen continental cooperation in the fight against cancer, warning that the disease now claims more African lives each year than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, made the call on Saturday while addressing participants at the Africa Oncology Collaboration and Innovation Forum in Luxor, Egypt.
The forum—which brought together African oncology networks, Egyptian medical institutions, and international development partners—focused on strengthening collaboration and innovation in cancer control across the continent.
Citing GLOBOCAN 2022 data, Salako revealed that Africa recorded 1.18 million new cancer cases and 763,843 deaths in a single year, describing the situation as “an unacceptable burden requiring collective action.”
He noted that Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa account for the largest share of the continent’s cancer cases, with Nigeria alone responsible for more than 10.5 percent of Africa’s total cancer burden.
Salako identified lifestyle changes, ageing populations, late diagnosis, poor early detection, and gaps in treatment capacity as key drivers of rising cancer incidence.
He also commended Shefa Alorman Hospital in Luxor—visited earlier by delegates—calling it “a phenomenal creation Africans should be proud of.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s progress over the past 31 months under the Bola Tinubu administration, he listed increased cancer-related budget allocations, the establishment of six new cancer centres of excellence, and major investments in oncology equipment.
The minister also announced two new national policy documents: the National Nuclear Medicine Policy and Strategic Plan, and the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, to be launched in early 2026.
Both, he said, are aligned with global initiatives such as the WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative and the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
He reported significant strides in cervical cancer prevention, noting that nearly 15 million girls aged 9–14 have been vaccinated against HPV since the vaccine was added to routine immunisation in 2023.
The National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination also aims to screen half of eligible women and treat all precancerous lesions by 2027.
On financing cancer care, Salako said Nigeria’s National Health Insurance Programme is finalising a scheme to cover cancer treatment.
He added that the country is implementing a National Cancer Health Fund and has supported the Nigeria Cancer Society in setting up a private sector–driven cancer intervention fund.
Calling for “Healthcare Pan-Africanism,” Salako urged African nations to embrace shared resources, unified strategies, and joint innovations.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the emerging Africa Oncology Network, describing it as vital to a coordinated continental response.
“Nigeria is ready to help entrench a spirit of collaboration that bridges borders, shares information, and supports a jointly-developed roadmap to reduce cancer incidence and mortality,” he said, stressing that success will require the involvement of policymakers, healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical firms, entrepreneurs, and technology innovators.
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