FG launches National Cancer Registry Regulations  

Kunle Sanni

The Federal Ministry of Health has announced that cancer is now a notifiable disease in Nigeria.

This declaration, was made by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, at the launching of the NCRR workshop in Abuja.

He stated that the scheme will improve access to real-time data, promote early detection through timely diagnosis and intervention, and help mitigate the impact of cancer on individuals and communities, thereby significantly improving the quality of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.

Alausa said by mandating healthcare providers to report cancer cases to centralised registries, aims to create a comprehensive database that accurately reflects the burden of cancer within the country.

Describing the development as a significant step in the country’s fight against the increasing cancer burden, he said a notifiable disease is a disease that, when diagnosed, requires health providers to report it to state or local public health officials, usually by law.

“Notifiable diseases are of public interest due to their contagiousness, severity, or frequency, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“This data-driven approach is essential for formulating evidence-based policies, allocating resources effectively, and monitoring the effectiveness of interventions over time.

“Cancer is a global health crisis, and Nigeria is no exception. It is estimated that over 124,000 new cases of cancer were recorded in Nigeria in 2020, resulting in 78,899 deaths. The prevalence of cancer is rising at an alarming rate, posing a significant threat to the health and well-being of our people.

“On behalf of the ministry of health, I extend my sincere appreciation to the Nigeria Institute of Cancer Research and Treatment and their partners: the African Cancer Registry Network, International Agency for Research on Cancer, and St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital USA, for developing this important document. This collaborative effort is essential for building a resilient healthcare system capable of addressing the growing burden of cancer in Nigeria.

“It is our hope that this will translate into concrete actions that advance our collective fight against cancer,” he added.