Abuja: The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday inaugurated nine priority projects under the Abuja City Cancer Programme to strengthen prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer across the city. At the inauguration, Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the initiative marked a shift from planning to implementation after more than 30 months of preparation and stakeholder engagement.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the projects were developed through a city-wide needs assessment and a structured co-creation process involving multiple stakeholders. Dr. Fasawe, who also chairs the City Executive Committee, emphasized the generation of strong, evidence-based insights into the gaps and challenges that exist across the cancer care continuum. The nine projects cover various aspects such as health systems coordination, quality of care, imaging, pathology, laboratory services, systemic therapy, radiotherapy, and cancer surgery.
Dr. Fasawe described cancer as a growing public health challenge and stressed that effective implementation would require discipline, accountability, and sustained collaboration among stakeholders. She highlighted the commitment of the government to drive the agenda forward and ensure measurable improvements in patient outcomes. Dr. Fasawe also expressed concerns over the burden of out-of-pocket payments on low-income households, which often lead patients to seek alternative treatments from traditional healers and faith-based organizations.
She further emphasized the need for increased education and advocacy to improve health-seeking behavior and reduce delays in accessing care. Dr. Fasawe commended partners including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Clinton Health Access Initiative, and City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) for their support.
Earlier, Ms. Sophie Bussmann-Kemdjo, C/Can Director for Africa and Europe, stated that the initiative aimed to ensure equitable access to quality cancer care across Abuja. She mentioned that Abuja joined the global network in 2023, receiving technical support and a structured framework for strengthening cancer care systems. A governance structure has been established to oversee implementation and address all areas of cancer care, with the expectation that these projects will drive resource mobilization and support future expansion beyond Abuja to other parts of Nigeria.
Dr. Uchechukwu Nwokwu, National Coordinator of the National Cancer Control Programme, acknowledged the alignment of the projects with Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan (2026-2030), which includes pillars such as diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, governance, and partnerships. He also pointed out patient navigation as a key gap, highlighting the importance of supporting patients to navigate the system, access resources, and remain on treatment to reduce the burden of cancer care.
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, expressed optimism about the programme’s potential to improve access to diagnostic and treatment infrastructure in Abuja. She encouraged patients not to lose hope, noting that access to care is gradually improving with ongoing interventions and that more solutions are being pursued to enhance access and affordability.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that City Cancer Challenge is a global organization supporting cities in low- and middle-income countries to improve cancer care through data-driven planning and capacity development.