BY Comfort Asemota
The Ogun State Government, in partnership with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), has unveiled a plan to integrate routine cancer screening into family planning services across public health facilities in the state. This move is aimed at reducing cancer-related deaths among women through early detection and timely treatment.
The programme will primarily focus on cervical and breast cancer screening, leveraging the widespread use of family planning clinics to reach more women. By embedding screening services into routine reproductive healthcare, the initiative seeks to improve early diagnosis, referral, and treatment outcomes, particularly for women of reproductive age.
The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Elijah Ogunsola, made this announcement during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Abeokuta, the state capital. He explained that the initiative would help close existing gaps in access to cancer screening, especially at the primary healthcare level.
According to Ogunsola, the programme will begin with a pilot phase in selected primary healthcare centres before being expanded statewide. He added that cost-effective screening methods, including visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) for cervical cancer and clinical breast examinations, will be adopted to ensure feasibility and sustainability at the grassroots.
Dr. Ogunsola noted that many women visit health facilities regularly for family planning but often miss out on cancer screening due to low awareness, high costs, and limited service availability. He described the integration as a strategic approach to bringing life-saving cancer screening services closer to women by utilising existing healthcare contact points.
He further stated that the Ogun State Government is committed to training healthcare workers, equipping facilities with essential screening tools, and strengthening referral systems to ensure women who require advanced care receive prompt attention.
In his presentation, Dr. Nathaniel Gbenga, the State Consultant for NICRAT, revealed that Ogun is among six Nigerian states currently supported by the institute to integrate cancer screening into family planning services. He explained that the initiative is designed to strengthen existing health systems and ensure women can access screening during routine clinic visits, especially those unable to afford standalone cancer screening services.
Gbenga added that NICRAT would provide technical expertise, standardized screening guidelines, and capacity-building support for healthcare workers involved in the programme.
Also speaking at the event, Sanni, the State Team Lead of NICRAT, commended Ogun State for taking significant steps to improve access to cancer screening services. She described the approach as practical, affordable, and sustainable, noting that effective counselling, skilled personnel, and functional referral pathways could significantly reduce cancer-related illnesses and mortality.
A representative of NICRAT, Mrs. Olabisi Folorunso-Lanlehin, explained that the institute was established to lead Nigeria’s fight against cancer through high-quality research, prevention, treatment, and control strategies. She said the collaboration aligns with Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan and is crucial to addressing cervical cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among Nigerian women, despite being largely preventable through early screening and vaccination.
According to data from the National Library of Medicine, breast and cervical cancers are the most common cancers affecting women in Nigeria, with high mortality rates linked to late diagnosis, poor awareness, poverty, cultural barriers, and limited access to healthcare services.
Breast cancer remains the most prevalent cancer among Nigerian women, while cervical cancer ranks second and is the leading cancer in some regions. Late presentation continues to hinder survival outcomes, even though early detection has been proven to significantly improve survival rates.
Statistics from the Global Cancer Observatory reveal that an estimated 16,332 women die each year from breast cancer, while approximately 7,093 deaths annually are attributed to cervical cancer in Nigeria, underscoring the urgent need for expanded screening and preventive healthcare initiatives.
