In Nigeria, cancer as a non-communicable disease is gradually securing a viable policy action from the Nigerian government including the federal and state government. The Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) initially executes cancer control policies through the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP).
Through our policy advocacies (including advocacy visits to the Senate) in 2016, many press statements, awareness walk and advocacies by many other cancer non-governmental organizations, the National Assembly passed the bill for the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment in 2016 and 2017. The Act was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on 20th December, 2017.
The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) Act was gazetted in February 2023 and a director general was appointed. NICRAT is now charged with the goal of controlling cancer in Nigeria, including cancer prevention, screening, palliative care, cancer registration and data generation for planning; and research. The institute is responsible for data collection on cancer and the use of the data for policy processes and mobilization of private sectors to invest in cancer care.
Cancer control policies can only be driven if Nigerians advocate for it and consistently engage the National Assembly and the presidency to continue to take action in cancer control in Nigeria. Hence, cancer control in Nigeria must be a collaborative effort of all Nigerians including NGOs, CSOs, cancer patients/survivors, medical practitioners, professional associations, trade unions and every human being living in Nigeria or associated with Nigeria.
Learn more about Project PINK BLUE’s advocacy to the government on the urgent need to gazette the National Institute on Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) Act: