NNPC Ltd Launches Free Cancer Screening Campaign,
Targets 3,000 Nigerians
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd) through NNPC
Foundation, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, is set to launch a free
cancer screening campaign to address Nigeria’s rising cancer cases.
The campaign tagged “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening” will provide, not just
free cancer screening to indigent Nigerians, but also health education, workshops,
and consultations with healthcare professionals aimed at empowering individuals
to recognize early symptoms, adopt preventive health measures, and better
understand the importance of regular screenings.
The campaign which will be organised in collaboration with local health authorities
and expert healthcare providers is targeted at reaching about 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.
Shedding more light on the objectives of the campaign, the Managing Director of
NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said: “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 is
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.
