The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd) through the NNPC Foundation, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, is targeting about 3,000 individuals across the six geo-political zones in a free cancer screening campaign to address Nigeria’s rising cases.
The campaign, “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening” will provide free cancer screening to indigent Nigerians, and allow consultations with healthcare professionals to educate individuals on early symptoms, adopt preventive health measures, and better understand the importance of regular screenings.
This initiative follows the success of a screening drive in February 2024, where over 200 Abuja residents received free breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screenings.
The campaign is organised in collaboration with local health authorities and expert healthcare providers with screening centres in Kaduna, Rivers, Ondo, Benue, Imo, and Gombe. The initiative will focus on breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, offering critical early-detection support for at-risk populations.
The Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, said: “The fight against cancer requires a collective effort and a commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare. This campaign is about more than just screening; it’s about saving lives, building awareness, and creating pathways to preventive care for Nigerians who need it most.
“In a country of over 200 million people, too many still lack access to the early detection tools that could make a life-saving difference. NNPC Foundation is dedicated to addressing this critical gap by bringing cancer screenings directly to communities. Early detection is crucial to improving survival rates, and this campaign is a vital step towards that goal.”
Cancer remains one of the most formidable health challenges in Nigeria, with over 79,000 cancer-related deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The most common cancers affecting Nigerian men include prostate and liver cancer, while women are predominantly impacted by breast and cervical cancers.
The campaign seeks to counter late-stage diagnoses by providing access to screening facilities and addressing cultural stigmas, and insufficient awareness.
These free cancer screening campaigns reflect NNPC Ltd.’s broader mission to promote health equity and enhance the well-being of Nigerians through its Foundation.
