The Nigerian Cancer Society has called on all states and local governments to develop appropriate framework for cancer prevention and control in their various states and local governments.

The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, who made the call in Abuja, while addressing newsmen in commemoration of the 2025 World Cancer Day also called on the Federal Government to appropriate additional funds to close the funding gap in the National Oncology Initiative.

Professor Omonisi expressed worry that Nigeria was already undergoing a catastrophic of Human Resource for Health (HRH) crises due to the current rate of migration of health workers overseas.

”We called on the federal government of Nigeria to upgrade this amount to a minimum of $2 billion, however, we also noted that in the first time in the history of this country, that the line budget was created for children with cancer.”

”That is a plus for the federal government, although only$15 million was budgeted for that but, we thank the federal government for creating a budget line for children with cancer. It is important to state very clearly that a patient with two positive early birth cancers will require an average of $17 million for treatment for a year.”

According to him, ”This excludes other treatments like laboratory services, surgery and supportive care, This reality is why our cancer society is calling for an upward review, because the amount budgeted for the 2025 window budget will only cater for 22 patients.

Professor Omonisi urged the federal and state governments to also appropriate additional funds to close the $97 billion funding gap that is currently noticed in the National Oncology Initiative.

Also speaking, the senior communication officer, Pathfinder Nigeria ,Bayo Ewuola stressed the need for the media to educate Nigerians on the uptake of HPV vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer in the country.

On her part, the Bureau Manager, Get Effect Nigeria, Chini Okonkwo, said the organization had been supporting the state government through a targeted approach to ensure a healthy reproductive health.

Get Effect is an international non-governmental organization that uses media and technology
to reach adolescent girls and young women, no matter where they are.

‘‘We have support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and with that, we are implementing the Accelerate Access to Health Services for adolescent girls and young women in Nigeria, while we are also tackling gender norms.

”And this project aims to increase demand and acceptance of the Human papillomavirus
vaccination among adolescent girls and young women,’ and we are doing this in Ondo, Ekiti,
Oyo, Delta, and Kaduna states.

The International AIDS Society,  IAS  has warned that the immediate halting of funding to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), including a stop-work order for existing grants and contracts, places millions of lives in jeopardy.

On the first day of taking office as US President, Donald Trump signed an executive order that banned any new government spending on foreign aid projects.

This was followed by an unexpected “stop-work order” issued on 24 January, which means that funding to PEPFAR, even for existing grants and contracts, is frozen.

“This is a matter of life or death,” IAS President Beatriz Grinsztejn said. “PEPFAR provides lifesaving antiretrovirals for more than 20 million people – and stopping its funding essentially stops their HIV treatment. If that happens, people are going to die and HIV will resurge.

“It makes no sense to suddenly stop this incredible catalyst of our global progress towards ending HIV as a threat to public health and individual well-being.”

PEPFAR is the largest commitment by any country, ever, to address a single disease. Since it established PEPFAR in 2003, the US government has invested over USD 110 billion in the global HIV response. It has saved 26 million lives and prevented millions of HIV acquisitions in more than 50 countries.

As PEPFAR itself states: “PEPFAR’s lifesaving work is enabled through the U.S. government’s unwavering commitment to the program and the American people’s compassion and generosity, as PEPFAR ensures every U.S. taxpayer dollar is optimally focused for impact.”

The IAS urgently calls on policymakers and stakeholders to restore the funding lifeline to this pivotal programme. Lives depend on it, right now. 

PR

,The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, has called for stronger regulations and cultural reorientation to combat the
the pervasive use of skin-bleaching products in Nigeria which he says is a public health crisis.

Speaking at a high-level workshop in Libreville, Gabon, Dr. Salako identified Nigeria as “the world capital of skin bleaching,” citing a World Health Organization (WHO) report that 77% of Nigerian women use skin-lightening products.

“Despite the well-documented harmful effects of these products, skin bleaching remains prevalent in Nigeria and across Africa, driven by societal pressures linking lighter skin to beauty, success, and social mobility,” Dr. Salako said.

The minister noted that the severe health risks associated with these products, including skin damage, organ toxicity, and cancer. Hazardous substances such as mercury, hydroquinone, and heavy metals—commonly found in unregulated skin-lightening products—pose significant dangers.

“Mercury exposure can lead to renal and neurological damage, while hydroquinone has been linked to ochronosis, a bluish-black discoloration of the skin, and potential carcinogenic effects,” Dr. Salako warned.

Dr. Salako highlighted Nigeria’s proactive measures, including the 2019 Cosmetics Products (Prohibition of Bleaching Agents) Regulations, which ban harmful ingredients and limit hydroquinone concentration to 2%.

He commended the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for ensuring cosmetic products meet safety standards through stringent testing and certification.

“Through the Cosmetics Safety Management Programme, we’ve conducted public sensitization campaigns, market surveillance, and grassroots education to raise awareness and remove hazardous products from circulation,” he added.

PR