February 26, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has flagged off free cancer screening in Ebonyi State with an initial capturing of 1,000 individuals to mark the 2026 World Cancer Day.
Flagging off the event with the theme 2025-2027, “United by Unique”, at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFUTHA), on Wednesday, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, said the exercise was nationwide.
The Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Daju Kachollom, said that ailment accounts for nearly 10,000 deaths in Nigeria annually.
He stated that the Ministry will go all out to detect patients with cancer, screen them and subsequently provide treatment to them, adding that early detection saves life, reduces financial catastrophe in families and improves national productivity.
“Under the present administration, we are strengthening healthcare services, expanding health insurance scheme, improving access to diagnosis, enhancing local pharmaceutical production and modernising tertiary institutions.
“The 2026 World Cancer Day theme, resonates strongly with our national approach. While we align with global cancer control goals, our strategies must reflect Nigeria’s reality. This is why the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is implementing free screening for 1,000 persons,not only in Ebola state, but across the Southeast geopolitical zone”, he said.
The Minister also noted that the flag-off would mark the beginning of capacity-building for healthcare workers on treatment protocols, chemosafe and pain management, and thereby applauded other partnering agencies and the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru, for providing a conducive environment for the life-saving project.
The host and Chief Medical Director of AEFUTHA, Professor Robinson Onoh, in his speech, corroborated that the event was meant to commemorate world cancer day and added that the health institution had been transformed into a hub of medical tourism currently serving Ebonyi people, other parts of the nation and some foreigners.
He further disclosed that the programme was geared at creating nationwide awareness and promoting early detection of three most common cancers comprising breast, cervix and prostate in conjunction with capacity building where healthcare providers in National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) would be trained with harmonised guidelines on pain management.
He added that the flag-off contained primary preventions strategies as health education, awareness creation, public enlightenment, vaccination and screening stressing that approximately one in five men or women develops cancer in a lifetime.
“It is worth noting that national regional centres were selected to celebrate World Cancer Day and Ebonyi State was chosen to represent South East zone, while AEFUTHA was selected to provide free cancer screening for 1,000 individuals”, he explained.
He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his Renewed Hope Agenda and other interventions in the health sector, the state governor, Chief Francis Nwifuru for creating an enabling environment for other numerous programmes.
The state governor, Chief Nwifuru, represented by his deputy, Mrs Patricia Obila, commended the Federal government through the ministry for choosing Ebonyi and assured of providing all the needed support at all times.
He added that his government had not relented in providing the residents with quality healthcare services ranging from revitalising 13 general hospital, improved wellbeing of health personnel and other interventions.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
