We Are Working On Providing Free Cancer Screening In Six Zones – NICRAT

Dr. Usman Malami Aliyu, the director general of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, gave in-depth analysis of President Tinubu’s plans for cancer screening centers in the six geopolitical zones, among others.
Read the interview below:
What precisely should be the 2025 World Cancer Day?
As we all know, World Cancer Day is observed today, and this year’s WCD celebration has the theme “United by unique.”
Cancer diagnoses are unique entities, and each patient has a unique story surrounding their diagnosis, the treatment they receive, the devastating news they endure, and the struggles they go through—including various challenges along the way.
A holistic approach to cancer management is promoted by the new theme. It should no longer be a one-size-fits-all approach, instead, all facets of care must be integrated to ensure comprehensive cancer care. We emphasize that each individual involved in cancer management should adopt a individualized approach that is customized to each patient’s needs because each patient is unique.
In other words, you are expected to see the person first before the patient. By doing so, we strongly believe—according to this year’s theme—that we can provide the holistic care needed for this special type of disease. As mentioned earlier, cancer is not just a disease, it comes with many interconnected challenges—physically, emotionally, and socially.
We have just heard a survivor’s story, and it reinforces the fact that cancer care should go beyond holistic treatment. These unique patients must receive more personalized and coordinated care.
Naturally, we are expected to have one clinical oncologist to 250 patients but in Nigeria, due to the Japa syndrome, we have one clinical oncologist to 1800 patients. How simple will it be for one oncologist to care for 1800 patients?
One of the issues we are currently facing is not just in Nigeria, but also in oncology settings and the care that oncologists provide. If you look at Nigeria’s population, you are correct that there is only one oncologist for at least 1, 800 patients. Due to the stringent requirements that specialists must adhere to, this is a significant challenge.
These experts have raised a number of issues, including those relating to the availability of necessary tools like linear accelerators for treatment, appropriate patient welfare packages, and a conducive working environment for practitioners.
However, I can assure you that with the coming of this administration—the administration of His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu there has been a noticeable improvement, despite the Japa syndrome that has affected virtually every sector of the country. The supply of cancer treatment equipment has increased.

There were only about three or four functional cancer treatment facilities in the entire nation before this government’s creation. However, within the first year of this administration—just last year—Mr. Six brand-new cancer treatment units for six national excellence centers were approved by the president for purchase. This means that these crucial machines have been provided by the government by more than double.
Additionally, this year, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment is planning to introduce state-of-the-art screening services in the six geopolitical zones—a first of its kind. More equipment, including nuclear medicine technology, which is highly needed for specialised cancer treatments, is also being acquired. To enhance the patient experience with cancer, this includes more linear accelerators.
With these advancements, the government is actively pursuing providing oncologists with the tools necessary for their practice. Many oncologists have expressed concerns, saying, “Yes, I have graduated, but what do you want me to do? If I stay in Nigeria, there are no centres where I can practice what I have learned”. Meanwhile, I have job offers abroad in well-equipped centres with up to six cancer treatment machines, where I can upgrade my skills and advance in my career.
Through these efforts, we hope to retain more oncologists in the country. You’ll notice that newly graduated oncologists are the ones occupying these positions in the majority of the centers where this new equipment is being provided. This means, in some ways, there is now a level of retention in the field of oncology, thanks to the innovations introduced by the current government.
Is the strategy employed by this administration appropriate to ensure accessibility and affordability for advanced terminal illnesses?
The Honorable Minister for Health and Social Welfare of the Alip Party has a special interest in making sure that the needed healthcare supplies and services are delivered to our communities if you look at what the Federal Ministry of Health is doing in collaboration with NIKRA through the Federal Ministry of Health. He made the decision to start a broad-based approach to healthcare, with cancer not one of the excluded.
Last year, there was a Cancer Access Program in the country. This Cancer Access Program, which is now under the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, consists of two parts. The “Cancer Health Fund” is the first one. This is a special fund created to assist underprivileged people in getting cancer treatment in the nation. Many people have accessed this fund because it has been tested in the six regions.
Additionally, “The ENCAP” is a program that we have. Through this initiative, the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with NICRAT, entered into an agreement—an MoU—with pharmaceutical companies that provide chemotherapy and targeted therapy needed by cancer patients. At 50% of the original price, these pharmaceutical companies offer high-quality cancer medications. In order to facilitate access, we collaborated with the Federal Ministry to secure a waiver from NAFDAC and the Immigration Customs Service.
Through this initiative, the government has drastically improved accessibility to cancer treatment. Additionally, I just mentioned the provision of six brand-new cancer treatment equipment, which we hope to complete by the second to third quarter of this year. This will increase the country’s ability to access cancer care and increase the number of services that were previously unavailable.
Additionally, we are focusing on providing screening services. Within the six geopolitical zones, we have the tools in place and are currently renovating and building new ones. This will allow people to enter and be screened for suspected cancer cases. We are optimistic that at this point, because it is anticipated that the disease will be discovered at a very early stage, if you are tested positive once again. You have a good chance of being cured if something is discovered early even though you don’t feel any symptoms but do go for a screening and something is found. Early detection is significantly more affordable and safer than ever. Through these efforts, we hope to increase the availability of the most crucial healthcare services for our citizens.

Is the screening subsidised? Is it free?
Yes, the Cancer Health Fund is free. Your doctor will help you go online and apply for the Cancer Health Fund if all you need to do is let you know that you require these services. There are some requirements you must meet before you can sign up for the platform, though.
The centres, what states are they?
North-Central – We have Abuja, the National Hospital
North-West – Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria
North-East – Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe
South-West – University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan
South-South – University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH)
South East – University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.
We have been working with the National Assembly and other philanthropists to increase funding for the Cancer Health Fund in partnership with all these centers, which have been providing these services. What we got for the fund last year was 200 million, and you know it will not be enough. So we’re hoping to significantly increase it so that we can at least cover more Nigerians with these funds.
Does this Cancer Health Access Program collaborate with the states?
As I mentioned earlier, the budget allocated for the Cancer Health Fund was only $200 million, which is a small sum. It was out of the wisdom of the Federal Ministry of Health, NICRA, and the agency that currently manages this fund to limit the coverage because of the amount we had—to three cancers: breast, cervical, and prostate cancer.
We kept it simple, six. We want to make the state’s tertiary hospitals the center of the republic if we receive better funding this year. Then there are the sub-hubs, which are the national general hospitals that provide surgical-based cancer treatment in some form.
We also have the feeders. The primary healthcare facilities in the nation are the feeders. Because we divided the expansion program into phases, and we are done with Phase 1, we are now complete. We are currently in Phase 2 and are working with the National Assembly to increase funding so that our referral system will be robust when it becomes available. You can be directed to a general hospital from where you will have access to some sort of healthcare service.
Watch the full chat here:
Source: Channels TV
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