By Sarah NEGEDU
To improve access to cancer care and strengthen public health interventions in the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Administration, is taking measures to provide free cancer vaccination for girls.
According to the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, the FCTA is committed to cancer prevention and care by collaborating with the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination.
The Mandate Secretary, who disclosed this in a statement issued to commemorate the 2025 World Cancer Day, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring equitable and compassionate cancer care.
Fasawe, in the statement signed by Media Assistant, Bola Ajao, said the partnership aims to prevent avoidable deaths and protect women in the FCT from this deadly disease.
February 4 is globally recognized for raising awareness, advocating for better healthcare access, and reducing the burden of cancer on families/ communities.
She noted that this year’s theme, “United by Unique,” aligns with the FCT’s commitment to “prioritizing people-centered care and further listed initiatives, which include: Free HPV vaccination for girls aged 9-14, Pap smear screenings in all FCT hospitals, training of primary healthcare workers in cervical cancer detection using visual inspection methods. These holistic measures are designed to curb the prevalence of cervical cancer.”
The health secretary described the recent visit of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination, led by its chairman and former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, timely, as FCT would leverage the expertise and resources of the task force to enhance cervical cancer prevention, vaccination, screening, testing, and treatment efforts.
She further noted that the FCT was selected as the first state for engagement by the national taskforce due to its outstanding performance and commitment to various healthcare initiatives, underscoring the need for collective action to ensure success of the advocacy campaign.
According to her, cancer as a leading cause of death worldwide due to late detection and lack of access to good medical attention. While, global statistics revealed that In 2022, there were approximately 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths globally, while Nigeria recorded an estimated 127,000 new cases and 79,000 deaths respectively.
To address this challenge, the FCT has implemented several interventions, including: Free HPV vaccination for girls aged 9-14, Pap smear screenings in all FCT government hospitals, Training of primary healthcare workers from 62 basic healthcare facilities in cervical cancer detection using acetic acid and Lugol’s iodine.
Other measures are Colposcopy screening services at Wuse District Hospital every Thursday, Chemotherapy management at Asokoro District Hospital, Statewide cancer prevention activities in collaboration with the City Cancer Foundation, including stakeholder mapping, needs assessments, and executive council engagements.
“Despite being preventable and treatable, late-stage diagnosis, limited treatment facilities, and lack of awareness continue to contribute to high mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified cancer as the second leading cause of death globally, stressing the urgent need for enhanced prevention, early detection, and access to quality treatment’. She stated.
She emphasized the need to combat stigma, misinformation, and delayed treatment, all of which contribute to preventable cancer deaths. Additionally, she revealed that the FCTA is working towards establishing fully equipped cancer centers to expand access to affordable cancer care, particularly in underserved areas.
