The federal government has expressed concerns over the rising burden of cancer in Nigeria, stating that deaths from the disease now exceed deaths from malaria, Tuberculosis (TB), and HIV/AIDS combined.
Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for health expressed this concern while flagging off the nationwide free cancer screening programme at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ogun State, aimed at early detection and reduction of cancer-related deaths. Salako described cancer as a major public health challenge in the country, noting that Nigeria currently bears the highest burden in Africa in terms of incidence and mortality.
“Cancer-related deaths in Nigeria now exceed fatalities from tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS combined”, the minister was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the federal ministry of health on Monday. He attributed the situation largely to late diagnosis and delayed commencement of treatment.
