A participant undergoing blood extraction for free prostate cancer screening organised by the NNPC Foundation in Benue State.
By Chidi Ugwu
In a significant milestone in its efforts to promote health and wellness, the NNPC Foundation has successfully screened over 3,441 individuals across the country for cancer.
Independent learnt that the initiative is part of the company’s broader commitment to improving the health and well-being of Nigerians, demonstrates the NNPC Foundation’s dedication to saving lives and reducing the burden of cancer on communities.
The initiative has been rolled out nationwide, providing free screenings to individuals in various communities, an effort aimed at increase awareness about cancer, promote early detection, and facilitate timely treatment.
The NNPC Foundation’s cancer screening initiative is just one aspect of the company’s comprehensive approach to promoting health and wellness in Nigeria. The foundation has also invested in various other health-related programs and initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians.
Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation Ltd, explained that the foundation’s focus on cancer saying: “The fight against cancer requires a collective effort and a commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare. This campaign is about more than just screening; it’s about saving lives, building awareness, and creating pathways to preventive care for Nigerians who need it most.”
Speaking further, she said: “In a country of over 200 million people, too many still lack access to the early detection tools that could make a life-saving difference. NNPC Foundation is dedicated to addressing this critical gap by bringing cancer screenings directly to communities. Early detection is crucial to improving survival rates, and this campaign is a vital step towards that goal.
According to her, long before its transformation into a limited liability company, NNPC has been involved in various health intervention programmes ranging from building and equipping health centres in host communities to medical outreaches to communities.
“With the transition into a limited liability company and the eventual establishment of the NNPC Foundation, a dedicated arm for harnessing the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility policy and programmes, a new focus and energy have been introduced into the company’s quest to help in building a healthy nation/populace.
“One of the focus areas of the NNPC Foundation’s healthcare intervention is cancer. The foundation has carried out free cancer screening campaigns across the country. Over 3,441 persons across the country have benefitted from the free screening intervention.
“One of the Foundation’s free cancer screening campaigns tagged “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening” which held across the six geopolitical zones of the country with screening centres in Kaduna, Rivers, Ondo, Benue, Imo and Gombe States.
“The campaign went beyond providing free screening for breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, to providing health education, workshops, and consultations with healthcare professionals aimed at empowering individuals to recognize early symptoms, adopt preventive health measures, and better understand the importance of regular screenings” she added.
The Foundation had earlier carried out a similar free cancer screening campaign in February 2024 in Abuja. The objective of the free screening campaigns is to counter the trend of late-stage diagnoses, which occur frequently due to limited access to screening facilities, cultural stigmas, and insufficient awareness.
Cancer remains one of the most formidable health challenges in Nigeria, with over 79,000 cancer-related deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The most common cancers affecting Nigerian men include prostate and liver cancer, while women are predominantly impacted by breast and cervical cancers.
The Foundation’s intervention in the health sector is not restricted to the provision of free cancer screening. Earlier in the year, it also carried out a medical outreach in Garki community in Abuja. About 450 members of the community received health checkups, treatment, and medical consumables.
The Foundation also conducted a similar medical outreach programme at the Utako Market in Abuja which saw 291 traders benefit from the free screening for glaucoma.
NNPC Ltd.’s rejuvenating touch in the health sector also reached those with heart diseases. The Foundation went into partnership with the Nigerian Cardiac Society provided free heart surgeries to 40 patients with various heart conditions in the course of the year.
The Foundation’s other health cum humanitarian interventions in the year also include the donation of over 20 trucks of food, water, medical consumables, and sanitary products to the Borno State Government for victims of the devastating flood that ravaged the state earlier in September.
The Foundation also donated 60 mattresses and dental accessories to Ile-Ife Special School for Children with Disabilities.
Beyond providing energy to drive industrial and economic growth, NNPC Ltd is also investing heavily in the health of Nigerians to ensure all-round prosperity for Nigeria.
