From Sidi Ibrahim Kaulahi, Gusau
The Zamfara State Ministry of Health has inaugurated a Cancer Initiative Committee to strengthen cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and care across the fourteen local government areas of the state.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, inaugurated the committee during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Polio Emergency Operations Centre in Gusau.
Speaking, Dr. Maradun called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, health workers, NGOs, development partners, researchers and cancer patient groups to address the growing burden of cancer.
She identified low public awareness as a major challenge, noting that many people lack information about cancer symptoms, where to seek help and available treatment options.
The commissioner called for cancer education materials to be translated into Hausa to improve public understanding, particularly in rural communities.
She also urged stakeholders to support cancer services, expand community based screening and intensify awareness campaigns in schools, markets, mosques, churches and rural communities.
Maradun said the committee would assess the state’s cancer situation, identify priorities and develop practical strategies for prevention, early detection, treatment and patient care.
The commissioner for Health Dr Nafisa Muhammad Maradun was represented by the permanent Secretary of the Ministry’s Alhaji Rilwanu Musa Zurmi.
The committee’s Chairman and Director of Public Health, Dr. Yusuf Abubakar Haske, said its mandate was to reduce cancer related illness and deaths through prevention, early diagnosis, timely treatment, palliative care and improved access to quality services.
He said the committee would also strengthen health workers’ capacity in cancer screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment, while promoting partnerships and community participation.
Dr. Haske encouraged stakeholders to explore opportunities under the National Health Insurance Authority to make cancer treatment more affordable and reduce the financial burden on patients and their families.
He stressed the need for sustainable programmes and coordinated efforts to improve access to cancer prevention and care across the state.
The inauguration marks a step towards a coordinated state response to cancer through public awareness, stronger partnerships and improved healthcare services.
