Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has joined the global community to commemorate World Cancer Day, assuring patients that they are not alone in the struggle to recuperate, as she also praised the resilience of those who have survived the scourge.
The theme of World Cancer Day 2025: ‘United by Unique’, highlights the value of individualised, patient-centered care in the fight against cancer.
The theme also highlights the importance of personalising treatment to each patient’s unique needs.
In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Mr. Jonathan Eze, on Tuesday, the Minister pledged solidarity with women and families affected by cancer and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting their fight against this devastating disease.
The statement read in parts: “To the women and families affected by cancer, I want to assure you that you are not alone.
“We stand with you in this fight, and we will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that you receive the support and care you deserve.
“Cancer affects everyone, but women are disproportionately impacted, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
“In Nigeria, breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that women have access to quality healthcare, screening, and treatment services.
“As we mark World Cancer Day, on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, I want to assure women across Nigeria that we are committed to supporting your health and wellbeing.
“We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to increase awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment options, improve access to quality healthcare services, including screening and treatment programs, support research and development of innovative cancer treatments and therapies.
“Let us unite to create a world where every woman has access to quality cancer care, and where no woman has to face cancer alone.”
In a related development, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Gender Development Centre (EGDC) has begun a pre-commencement and pre-implementation needs assessment aimed at creating awareness, and providing medical and financial support for obstetric fistula patients in Nigeria, starting from Katsina State today.
To ensure adequate implementation of this project, the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs has decided to first carry out a pre-commencement/need assessment visit in preparation for the project flag-off/sensitization and awareness creation in the State.
The Minister, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, noted, however, that ensuring the general health well-being of all and, especially that of women and girls, is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Women and on Health.
The Minister, through the Permanent Secretary, Dr Maryam Keshinro, thanked the ECOWAS EGDC for its support and other development partners who are active in the fight against fistula.
A statement from the Permanent Secretary outlined that the programme intends to rehabilitate at least 60 VVF patients for the care of Obstetric Fistula (OF) patients in the Republic of Nigeria, capacity building for at least 30 health workers/Surgeons working on Fistula in the Republic of Nigeria; fistula surgery to at least sixty (60) women and girls identified as victims of Fistula and social economic reintegration of at least 50% of these women treated for the fistula surgery with subsidies and technical support to develop income-generating activities.
Other focus of the three-day workshop ongoing in Katsina State includes information and awareness raising on the causes and consequences of the disease and advocacy for their integration into national health development programs in the Republic of Nigeria through the adoption of appropriate legal mechanisms;
“Monitoring-Evaluation of project implementation in the Republic of Nigeria, and ensuring adequate implementation of this project, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs decided to first and foremost carry out a pre-commencement/need assessment visit in preparation to the project flag-off/sensitization and awareness creation in the State.”
The focal person for the project, Mr Ilyasu Omar Zubair, also commended ECOWAS and the federal government for the collaboration.
