The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Abidemi Omonisi, has called for the stronger integration of cancer prevention and care into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system, emphasizing the need to extend services beyond urban centres to rural communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
Omonisi made the call on Wednesday in a statement marking the 2026 World Cancer Day, themed “United by Unique,” released in Ado Ekiti. He noted that government interventions on cancer have largely been concentrated in state capitals, leaving underserved populations at risk.
“Despite important strides, we still have far too many people presenting late. Families are 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,” Omonisi said.
The NCS president disclosed that the society is addressing gaps through free cancer screening projects targeting rural communities, underprivileged Nigerians, and IDPs. He said the organisation is sourcing funds to purchase and deploy mobile cancer screening and treatment vans across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Omonisi stressed that tackling cancer requires collective action from all sectors. “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,” he said.
He reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to equitable cancer care, prevention, early detection, public education, research, and capacity building, adding that the rights and welfare of cancer patients and survivors remain central to the society’s mission.
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Omonisi also urged policymakers and partners to prioritise cancer control, describing such investment as “a commitment to life, productivity and national development.” He encouraged young people to embrace healthy lifestyles, vaccination, screening, and early reporting, stressing that cancer is not limited to older persons.
Highlighting Nigeria’s achievements in cancer control, Omonisi cited increased awareness, stronger advocacy, the expansion of cancer registries, establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, development of an updated National Cancer Control Plan, upgrading of federal tertiary hospitals as centres of excellence, the creation of the National Cancer Health Fund, and growing attention to cancer control at national and sub-national levels.
“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 concluded.