By JKNewsMedia
THE NIGERIAN National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd), through its NNPC Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, is set to launch a free cancer screening campaign targeting the nation’s escalating cancer crisis.
The campaign tagged “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening,” aims to provide free cancer screenings, health education, workshops, and professional consultations to underserved Nigerians, fostering awareness and early detection.
NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, announced the initiative on Tuesday, emphasizing its goal to empower Nigerians to recognize early cancer symptoms, adopt preventive health practices, and understand the critical importance of regular screenings.
The programme will be conducted in partnership with local health authorities and aims to reach 3,000 individuals across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones, with screening centers in Kaduna, Rivers, Ondo, Benue, Imo, and Gombe states.
The focus will include breast, cervical, and prostate cancer—conditions most prevalent among Nigerian men and women, with over 79,000 annual cancer-related deaths, according to WHO.
Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, stressed the importance of a collective fight against cancer, citing the Foundation’s commitment to accessible healthcare.
“This campaign is about more than just screening; it’s about saving lives, building awareness, and creating pathways to preventive care,” she stated.
“In a country of over 200 million people, many still lack access to life-saving early detection tools. This campaign is a crucial step toward addressing this critical gap and improving survival rates.”
Arukwe notes that following a successful screening drive in February 2024, where more than 200 residents in Abuja received free screenings, the upcoming campaign reflects NNPC Ltd.’s mission to promote health equity and enhance well-being across Nigeria.
She also added that addressing Nigeria’s cancer crisis requires early detection, yet challenges such as limited screening facilities, cultural stigmas, and lack of awareness often lead to late-stage diagnoses.
As such, the Foundation’s commitment to cancer awareness and prevention is a reflection of its dedication to improving health outcomes for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
