The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, alongside his team, on Wednesday commenced free cancer screening for the first 1,000 individuals at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital.
The initiative, flagged off by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Daju Kachollom, is part of a nationwide exercise marking the 2026 World Cancer Day, aimed at combating a disease that claims nearly 10,000 lives annually in Nigeria. Patients diagnosed during the screening will also receive treatment, highlighting the importance of early detection in saving lives and reducing financial strain on families.
“Under the present administration, we are strengthening healthcare services, expanding the health insurance scheme, improving access to diagnosis, enhancing local pharmaceutical production, and modernising tertiary institutions,” Pate said.
The Chief Medical Director of AEFUTHA, Prof. Robinson Onoh, noted that the hospital has been developed into a hub for medical tourism and will provide awareness, early detection, and capacity building for healthcare workers on breast, cervical, and prostate cancers. The programme includes training on treatment protocols, chemo-safety, pain management, vaccination, and public health education.
“National regional centres were selected to celebrate World Cancer Day. Ebonyi State was chosen to represent the South-East zone, while AEFUTHA was selected to provide free cancer screening for 1,000 individuals,” Onoh said, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his Renewed Hope Agenda and health sector interventions.
The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Mrs Patricia Obila, representing Governor Francis Nwifuru, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to quality healthcare, noting revitalisation of general hospitals and improved welfare for health personnel.
