Health
FG To Harness AI, Digital Tools To Strengthen Cancer Control – Salako
The Federal Government says it will continue to harness digitalisation, artificial intelligence, telemedicine, molecular diagnostics, precision medicine and data analytics to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of the 2026 International Cancer Week.
The week has the theme: “United Against Cancer: Building Resilient, Innovative and Equitable Systems Across the Cancer Care Continuum.”
Salako said the government was also strengthening cancer registries and using data analytics to improve cancer control, while ensuring that emerging technologies addressed gaps in access to specialist services and clinical decision-making.
“The first priority under this year’s theme is resilience- building cancer-care systems that can withstand shocks, adapt and sustain essential services.
“This requires investment in infrastructure, equipment, diagnostics, medicines, human resources and sustainable financing.”
He, however, said innovations being introduced into cancer care must be affordable, appropriate, scalable and sustainable to deliver meaningful outcomes within Nigeria’s health system.
The minister said the technologies were expected to help overcome geographical barriers, expand access to specialist care, strengthen referrals and support clinical decision-making.
He also stressed the need to strengthen locally relevant cancer research and ensure that evidence translated into effective policies, programmes and better patient outcomes.
Salako said the Federal Government was pursuing the innovations alongside investments in cancer infrastructure, diagnostics, medicines, human resources and sustainable financing.
According to him, the introduction of immunohistochemistry services under the Nigeria Cancer Access Partnership Programme, supported by Roche, is another intervention aimed at improving cancer diagnosis.
Salako said the government was also expanding prevention and early detection through eight National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) Preventive Oncology Clinics across the six geopolitical zones.
The minister said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that cancer care was accessible regardless of income, location or social circumstance.
He said the National Cancer Health Fund and Catastrophic Health Expenditure Fund were strengthening financial protection for cancer patients and families.
The Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Aliyu, said the institute had strengthened Nigeria’s cancer-control efforts through research, workforce development, surveillance and improved access to care.
Aliyu said nearly 2,000 healthcare professionals had been trained across the six geopolitical zones in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, palliative care, research and programme implementation.
He said NICRAT was also advancing precision oncology through the Nigeria Cancer Genome Study, while the SINCA project had trained more than 120 early-career oncology researchers.
According to him, cancer surveillance had also been strengthened through the declaration of cancer as a notifiable disease and the upgrading of population-based cancer registries.
Aliyu said the National Cancer Health Fund had supported more than 2,000 indigent and vulnerable cancer patients, while another cancer assistance initiative had provided lifesaving support to more than 10,000 patients.
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Rep. Amos Magaji, said the growing cancer burden required stronger financing and primary healthcare interventions.
Magaji said Nigeria was losing approximately 1,000 people to cancer every month, while families were being pushed into poverty by the high cost of treatment.
He called for measures to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and strengthen health insurance and other funding mechanisms for cancer care.
“We need to get to a point whereby we strengthen our primary healthcare centres and that is where screening, health education campaign and every other thing needs to start from,” he said.
Magaji also called for timely release of funds, saying healthcare emergencies could not wait for budgetary releases.
The President, Nigerian Cancer Society, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, said cancer control efforts must remain centred on people and translate commitments into measurable action and sustainable impact.
Omonisi called for stronger coordination among government institutions, healthcare professionals, researchers, civil society organisations, development partners, the private sector, communities, survivors and patients.
“No single institution can address the cancer burden alone,” he said.
He said technology, digital health, data systems, artificial intelligence and innovative diagnostics offered opportunities to improve cancer prevention, detection, treatment and follow-up.
Omonisi, however, emphasised that innovation must be guided by evidence and designed around the realities of Nigeria’s health system.
He added that research must move beyond publication to influence policy, practice and measurable outcomes.
Highpoint of the event was the launch of Standard Operating Procedure Manual for Cancer Registries in Nigeria and the Nigerian Journal of Cancer Research.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference which began on Tuesday will close on Friday.(NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
