By Destiny Obinna
The Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS) has called for aggressive cancer screening and early diagnosis, describing them as critical to improving survival rates and reducing the burden of the disease in Nigeria.
The Society said early detection remained one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes, particularly in developing countries where inadequate healthcare infrastructure and funding constraints continued to undermine cancer care.
President of NCS, Professor Abidemi Omonisi, made the call during the launch of the United Against Cancer initiative, a partnership between the Society and United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) to promote cancer awareness, early detection and treatment.
Speaking at the airline’s headquarters in Lagos, Omonisi described the partnership as an important intervention in addressing the funding challenges confronting cancer care in the country.
He commended UNA for initiating the programme as part of its corporate social responsibility, stressing that aggressive screening was particularly important for developing countries.
According to him, differences in genetic composition and the limited representation of black populations in cancer research raise concerns about the effectiveness of some treatments developed largely from studies involving other populations.
He said: “The difference between the outcome of cancer that we see in our country and most countries in Africa and Western countries is that the cancer we have is not the same as what they have because they are white, we are black.
“So, in terms of genetics, we are not the same. That’s why most of the treatment that they have in Western countries does not really benefit our people. We are black, we don’t do enough studies. Many of those drugs were actually researched, were conducted on the white, and therefore means that many of those drugs will have minimal effect on our people.
“Screening is also part of what we do. Screening is very important because the only escape that we have in developing countries is aggressive screening. If you screen, you pick up these cases early.”
Meanwhile, Managing Director of UNA, Mazi Osita Okonkwo, said the airline was committed to supporting the fight against cancer through public awareness and fundraising.
Sharing his personal experience, Okonkwo disclosed that he was a cancer survivor and had lost two sisters to the disease, describing the campaign as a cause that was particularly close to his heart.
He explained that the initiative would be implemented in two phases, beginning with public awareness, information sharing and early detection, followed by support for patients whose cancers were diagnosed at advanced stages and required treatment.
According to him, passengers booking tickets through the airline’s website would have the opportunity to make voluntary donations towards cancer care, with contributions ranging from N1,000 to N100,000 and above.
He assured that all funds raised would be remitted directly to the Nigerian Cancer Society through an account designated for the initiative.
Okonkwo said: “We have heard the news, and we have seen people who have been affected by this deadly disease. It is on that basis that United Nigeria has decided to work with the Nigerian Cancer Society in a special way to mount a campaign against cancer in Nigeria.“We believe they need to be supported, not only by United Nigeria Airlines through the United Nigeria Airlines Foundation but also by the passengers who fly with us and book tickets on our platform.”
He added that the airline would extend the fundraising campaign beyond its online booking platform by placing information materials in seat pockets behind passengers’ seats.
This, he said, would enable passengers who did not book through the website to participate through bank transfers or spare-change donations.
Appealing for public support, Okonkwo said the contributions would help aid for vulnerable cancer patients, including women battling breast cancer and children requiring treatment.
He said the campaign was already live on the airline’s website and urged Nigerians, organisations and other stakeholders to support the initiative.
