Health ministry, civil service join forces to promote early detection and prevention under Renewed Hope Agenda
By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
The Federal Government on Saturday transformed the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja into a giant cancer-screening arena, offering free tests to more than 1,000 civil servants in what officials hailed as the first event of its kind in Nigeria.
The National Sports and Fitness Fiesta Against Cancer, organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA), formed part of activities marking the 2025 Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The initiative also aligns with the Head of Civil Service of the Federation’s ongoing welfare reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Declaring the event open, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, said the campaign was “not just about exercise, but a declaration that the Nigerian workforce is choosing health, life, and hope.” She added, “Without health, there is no service. Without health, there is no progress,” stressing that a healthy and resilient civil service is vital to national development.
Represented by Mrs. Patience Nwakuso Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, Walson-Jack urged workers to take advantage of the free screenings for breast, cervical, and prostate cancers. She commended the strong turnout from Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, noting that the public service was “leading by example” in promoting wellness and productivity.
Earlier, Daju Kachollom, mni, Permanent Secretary of the Health Ministry, described the campaign as “epoch-making,” revealing that Nigeria records over 127,000 new cancer cases annually, with breast cancer alone accounting for about 24 percent. She lamented that more than 80 percent of cancers are diagnosed late, saying, “The disparity is clear—while developed countries have higher incidence, low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria suffer higher mortality because of poor screening culture. This is why we must act.”
Reaffirming government commitment, Kachollom said she would champion the creation of State Cancer Control Programmes at the forthcoming National Council on Health to institutionalize routine screening nationwide. “Today’s event is not a one-off; it is the beginning of an aggressive national campaign for cancer prevention and early detection,” she declared.
Dr. Oyiza Oza, Head of Oncology at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, also stressed prevention and lifestyle change. “Cancer is real, it is ravaging, and it is here with us. The cheapest and most effective response is prevention through lifestyle modification and regular screening. Early detection saves lives,” she told participants.
Screenings covered breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancers, alongside checks for blood pressure, blood sugar, body-mass index, and hepatitis B and C—all linked to chronic disease risks. While breast and cervical tests will continue at the Federal Medical Centre, others were conducted on-site at the stadium. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare won the Best Behaved MDA award at the fiesta, which also featured aerobics, awareness talks, and friendly sporting contests.
