By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Federal Government has launched a nationwide cancer awareness and fitness campaign with free cancer screening for more than 1,000 civil servants in Abuja, as part of efforts to reduce the burden of the disease in Nigeria.
The initiative, tagged the National Sports and Fitness Fiesta Against Cancer, was held on Saturday at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. It was organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA), in line with the government’s focus on preventive healthcare and workers’ welfare.
The event also marked the 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, who was represented by Mrs. Patience Nwakuso Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, OHCSF, said the exercise was part of the government’s effort to promote health and productivity in the public service.
“Without health, there is no service. Without health, there is no progress,” she said, urging workers to take advantage of the free screening exercise.
The screening covered breast and cervical cancers for women and prostate cancer for men. Participants also underwent general health checks for blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, and hepatitis B and C.
Walson-Jack emphasized that the campaign represents the federal government’s renewed commitment to preventive healthcare under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, mni, described the initiative as “epoch-making,” noting that Nigeria records over 127,000 new cancer cases annually, with breast cancer accounting for about 24 percent.
She expressed concern that more than 80 percent of cancer cases in the country are diagnosed at late stages, compared to developed countries where early detection improves survival rates.
“The disparity is clear. While developed countries have higher incidence, low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria have higher mortality because of poor screening culture. This is why we must act,” she said.
Kachollom said the event marks the beginning of a nationwide drive for cancer prevention and early detection. She added that at the forthcoming National Council on Health, the ministry will push for the establishment of State Cancer Control Programmes and routine screening at the subnational level.
“Today’s event is not a one-off. It is the start of an aggressive national campaign for cancer prevention and early detection,” she said.
Medical experts at the event, including Dr. Oyiza Oza, Head of Oncology Department at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, emphasized lifestyle changes and regular screening as key to reducing cancer mortality.
“Cancer is real, it is ravaging, and it is here with us. The cheapest and most effective response is prevention through lifestyle modification and regular screening. Early detection saves lives,” Oza said.
The event featured fitness sessions, aerobics, health talks, and award presentations. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare won the Best Behaved MDA award, while other categories recognized Early Arrival, Best Kitted, and Highest Attendance participants.