Cancer-related deaths now exceed fatalities from malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS combined – FG

The federal government has expressed concerns over the rising burden of cancer in Nigeria, stating that deaths from the disease now exceed deaths from malaria, Tuberculosis (TB), and HIV/AIDS combined.

Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for health expressed this concern while flagging off the nationwide free cancer screening programme at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ogun State, aimed at early detection and reduction of cancer-related deaths. Salako described cancer as a major public health challenge in the country, noting that Nigeria currently bears the highest burden in Africa in terms of incidence and mortality.

“Cancer-related deaths in Nigeria now exceed fatalities from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined”, the minister was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the federal ministry of health on Monday. He attributed the situation largely to late diagnosis and delayed commencement of treatment.

He noted that breast cancer has a global mortality rate of about 28 percent, with Nigeria recording figures far above the global average, while cervical cancer, responsible for about 21 percent of cancer deaths globally and locally, remains largely preventable and curable.

He noted that prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Africa, while survival rates for childhood cancers remain significantly lower in low- and middle-income countries.

Salako explained that the free screening exercise will cover 6,000 asymptomatic Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones and will focus on breast, cervical and prostate cancers, the three most common cancers in the country. The screenings are expected to run throughout the month of February.

He added that the initiative aligns with the prevention-focused strategy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which prioritises cost-effective approaches to controlling diseases of public health importance.

Salako informed that by late 2025, nearly 15 million girls aged nine to 14 years had received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine nationwide to protect against future cervical cancer cases, alongside continued hepatitis B vaccination to prevent liver cancer.

He further revealed that the Ministry is working towards establishing a national cancer screening programme, with pilot preventive oncology clinics already operational in six centres across the country.

He added that plans are also underway to integrate basic cancer screening services into primary healthcare centres before the end of President Tinubu’s first term in May 2027.

He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the free screening exercise and adopt healthier lifestyles, stressing that early detection remains critical to reducing cancer-related deaths nationwide.