The Nigerian Government has called for a stronger Pan-African collaboration to tackle the continent’s cancer burden, warning that cancer now kills more Africans annually than HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako made the call on Saturday while addressing delegates at the Africa Oncology Collaboration and Innovation Forum holding in Luxor, Egypt.
The event tagged; “The Organiser of the Africa Oncology Collaboration and Innovation Forum 2025”, was organised to strengthen cross-border partnerships in oncology care by Africa Oncology Collaboration and Innovation Forum Planning Committee.
It was also organised in partnership with relevant Egyptian oncology institutions, and supported by African oncology networks and development partners.
Salako said that Africa recorded 1.18 million new cancer cases and 763,843 deaths in 2022, according to GLOBOCAN.
He said Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa jointly accounted for the highest number of cancer cases in the continent, with Nigeria alone responsible for more than 10.5 percent of Africa’s total cancer burden.
The minister said the rising burden was driven by lifestyle factors, aging populations, late diagnosis, weak early detection systems, and gaps in treatment infrastructure across African countries.
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He commended the organisers of the forum for advancing the African Union Agenda 2063 vision of an integrated Africa and applauded the Shefa Alorman Hospital in Luxor, which participants toured earlier in the day.
He described the facility as “a phenomenal creation Africans should be proud of” and praised the devotion and expertise of the staff.
Strategic Documents
The minister also disclosed that Nigeria had developed two new strategic documents to guide the country’s cancer control efforts.
According to him, the new plans align with global frameworks such as the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative, Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, and the UICC Global Cancer Declaration.,
“It will serve as a guide for every oncology stakeholder in Nigeria, from policymakers to researchers, private sector partners, non-governmental organisations, and even survivors,” he said.
He also said the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination was working to screen at least 50 percent of eligible women and treat all detected precancerous lesions by 2027.
“Nigeria is ready to contribute to entrench the spirit of oncology collaboration that bridges borders, shares resources and information, and focuses on a jointly-developed roadmap to reduce cancer incidence and mortality,” he added.
NAN