The World Health Organization (The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged Nigeria and other member states to adopt Global Cancer Initiatives to enhance cancer prevention, treatment, and control. WHO Country Representative, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, made this call in Abuja on Tuesday during the 2025 World Cancer Day commemoration, emphasizing the importance of initiatives such as the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC), Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative (CCEI), and the Global Breast Cancer Initiative.) has urged Nigeria and other member states to adopt Global Cancer Initiatives to enhance cancer prevention, treatment, and control. WHO Country Representative, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, made this call in Abuja on Tuesday during the 2025 World Cancer Day commemoration, emphasizing the importance of initiatives such as the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC), Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative (CCEI), and the Global Breast Cancer Initiative.
Speaking on the event’s theme, “United by Unique”, and sub-theme, “United in Our Goals, Unique in Our Needs”, Kazadi stressed the need for a people-centered approach to cancer care. He commended Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Programme and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) for their leadership in cancer prevention and treatment. He further emphasized that cancer care should go beyond just treating the disease, integrating the perspectives of patients, caregivers, and communities to ensure a holistic healthcare system.
Kazadi expressed satisfaction that Nigeria has already adopted these global initiatives and has prioritized cancer and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through the Health Sector Renewal Initiative under the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp). He reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to supporting cancer awareness, prevention, and control efforts in Nigeria, ensuring that these initiatives are successfully implemented.
In his remarks, NICRAT Director General, Usman Malami Aliyu, highlighted significant progress in implementing the National Strategic Cancer Control Plan (2023-2027). This includes training healthcare workers in cancer prevention across all six geopolitical zones, strengthening early detection and treatment, and providing specialized onco-psychology training to support cancer patients’ mental well-being.
Aliyu also announced a new initiative to introduce preventive oncology clinical services, beginning in North Central and South-West Nigeria in 2024, paving the way for routine cancer screenings nationwide. Additionally, NICRAT has strengthened cancer data collection through the digitalization of the National Cancer Registry and is advancing research in cancer genomics. These efforts aim to map genetic mutations in common cancers, laying a foundation for precision oncology in Nigeria and across the black race. As Nigeria marks World Cancer Day 2025, NICRAT remains committed to consolidating these achievements and launching new cancer-fighting initiatives.
