The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Abidemi Omonisi, on Wednesday called for stronger integration of cancer prevention and care into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.

Omonisi said government interventions on cancer were largely concentrated in state capitals and urban centres, urging authorities to extend services to rural communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps across the country.

The NCS president made the call in a statement issued to mark the 2026 World Cancer Day, themed “United by Unique,” and made available in Ado Ekiti.

Cancer is a group of more than 100 diseases marked by uncontrolled cell growth that can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

It is diagnosed using biopsies, imaging techniques such as CT, MRI and PET scans, as well as blood tests.

Treatment options typically include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy, depending on the type and stage of the disease.

He acknowledged Nigeria’s progress in cancer control and prevention but warned against complacency.

"Despite important strides, we still have far too many people presenting late. We still see families pushed into poverty by the cost of care. We face shortages in oncology services, diagnostic capacity and trained health workers. There is still a need for stronger integration of cancer prevention and care into our primary health system,” he said.

Omonisi disclosed that the NCS was addressing gaps through its free cancer screening projects targeted at rural communities, underprivileged Nigerians and IDPs.

"We are sourcing funds to purchase and deploy mobile cancer screening and treatment vans across the six geopolitical zones to serve rural communities and underserved Nigerians,” he added.

He stressed that tackling cancer required collective action, noting that no single institution or sector could address the challenge alone.

“Government must continue to show leadership through policy, financing and accountability. Health professionals must remain committed to evidence-based and compassionate care. Researchers must generate data that reflects our realities, while civil society must amplify community voices. The private sector also has a role to play, and communities must be empowered with knowledge, trust and access,” Omonisi said.

He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to equitable cancer care, prevention, early detection, public education, research, data systems and capacity building, adding that the rights and welfare of cancer patients and survivors remained central to the society’s mission.

The NCS president also urged policymakers and partners to prioritise cancer control, describing such investment as “a commitment to life, productivity and national development.”

Addressing young people, he said cancer was not limited to older persons and urged them to embrace healthy lifestyles, vaccination, screening and early reporting.

“As we mark the 2026 World Cancer Day, let us move beyond awareness to action, equity and impact. Let us build a Nigeria where a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence and where access to quality care does not depend on where you live or how much you earn,” he said.

Omonisi listed Nigeria’s achievements in cancer control to include increased awareness, stronger advocacy, expansion of cancer registries, establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, and the development of an up-to-date National Cancer Control Plan.

Other milestones, he said, include the upgrading of some federal tertiary hospitals as centres of excellence for cancer treatment, the establishment of the National Cancer Health Fund, and growing attention to cancer control at both national and sub-national levels.(The PUNCH)

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