The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, has raised concern over critical gaps in Nigeria’s cancer care system, calling for immediate government investment in women-centered screening, diagnosis and treatment services.
MWAN president, Dr Maureen Umeakuewulu, made the call in Abuja while marking this year’s World Cancer Day with the theme, “United by Unique”.
She warned that Nigeria continues to record a growing cancer burden, with over 127,000 new cases annually and nearly 80,000 deaths, stressing that poor access to early detection and treatment is worsening survival outcomes, particularly among women.
According to her, women in the FCT, despite being close to policy-making institutions, still face late diagnosis, delays in treatment and limited access to essential cancer services.
Umeakuewulu said cancers affecting women including breast, cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers remain a major public health challenge.
She disclosed that breast cancer accounts for more than 28,000 new cases annually among Nigerian women, while cervical cancer causes about 8,000 deaths yearly, despite being largely preventable.
She noted that Nigeria ranks among countries with the highest cervical cancer burden globally, largely due to poor screening coverage and low public awareness.
Umeakuewulu stressed that the consequences of cancer extend beyond health, affecting family stability, child welfare, and community productivity.
She attributed rising mortality rates to weak health infrastructure, limited organised screening programmes, and inequality in access to diagnostic services.
Highlighting infrastructure deficiencies, she stated that no government-owned hospital in Nigeria currently has a functional Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, which is vital for accurate cancer staging and treatment planning.
She added that only one functional PET scan exists in a private facility, making access unaffordable for most Nigerians.
Umeakuewulu also expressed concern over the shortage of functional radiotherapy centres nationwide, noting that the limited facilities result in long waiting times, treatment interruptions, disease progression, and preventable deaths.
She said many patients in the FCT and other parts of the country are forced to travel long distances for treatment or abandon care due to high costs and delays.
The MWAN president called for the expansion of population-based screening for breast and cervical cancer at the primary healthcare level, improved HPV vaccination coverage for girls aged nine to 14, and the establishment of PET scan facilities in government tertiary hospitals, including those in the FCT.
She reaffirmed MWAN FCT’s commitment to sustained advocacy, public education, and screening programmes, urging women to prioritise early detection and routine health checks.
