Federal Government Trains Health Workers in Ogun on Cancer Prevention and Family Planning

The Federal Government is training health workers in Ogun State to help integrate cancer prevention services into family planning. This training, part of a larger initiative, is taking place in Abeokuta and involves frontline health workers from across the state.

Olabisi Folorunso-Lanlehin, who spoke on behalf of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), emphasized the crucial role health workers play in addressing cancer in Nigeria. She highlighted that cervical cancer claims nearly twenty lives of Nigerian women each day, while breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Many women often seek help too late, even though cervical cancer can be mostly prevented and both cancers can be treated successfully if caught early.

Folorunso-Lanlehin explained that the goal of the training is to ensure that every woman visiting a family planning clinic has the opportunity to be screened for breast and cervical cancer. The first phase of this initiative was launched in several states in late 2025, and while it showed promise, it also revealed some challenges, such as record-keeping and supply issues.

During this second phase of training, health workers will learn about cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), sample collection, and testing procedures. Folorunso-Lanlehin stressed the importance of quality in every step of the process, as mistakes can lead to missed diagnoses.

Dr. Sanni Salimot, representing the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, noted that the state is committed to improving maternal and child health, including cancer prevention. Plans are underway to incorporate cancer education into the school system to help lower cancer rates.

Participants in the training expressed optimism that this initiative will effectively spread the message of cancer prevention to communities throughout Ogun State.