CITIZENS COMPASS – The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd) through NNPC Foundation, is set to launch a free cancer screening campaign for Nigerians.
The Foundation which is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of NNPCL, through the campaign will address Nigeria’s rising cancer cases.
Tagged “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening”, the Campaign will provide, free cancer screening to indigent Nigerians, alongside health education, workshops,
and consultations with healthcare professionals to empower individuals
to recognize early symptoms, adopt preventive health measures, and better
understand the importance of regular screenings.
It is in collaboration with local health authorities and expert healthcare providers and targeted at reaching 3,000 individuals
across the six geo-political zones 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.
A statement signed by Olufemi O. Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited, quited the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe thus: “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 isd 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 the trend of late-stage diagnoses, which occur frequently due to limited access to screening facilities, cultural stigmas, and insufficient awareness.
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
These free cancer screening campaigns reflect NNPC Ltd.’s broader mission to promote health equity and enhance the well-being of Nigerians across the country through its Foundation.
