- Amosun’s wife Raises Alarm Over Rising Cancer Cases
- Stresses the importance of early detection
- Decries cost of treatment
Former First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has expressed concern over the rising cost of cancer treatment and the limited access to quality healthcare in low and middle income communities across Nigeria.
Eko Hot Blog reports that she spoke during the launch of the 2025 Free Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Programme at the Telemedicine Centre of the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.
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Mrs Amosun, who founded The Uplift Development Foundation, explained that the initiative seeks to empower women through health awareness, personal responsibility, and access to free screening and treatment.
She stressed the importance of early detection, describing it as the most effective way to prevent cancer-related deaths.
According to her, cancer is not a death sentence, as survivors have shown that breast and cervical cancers can be successfully treated when detected early.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), she revealed that more than 19 million new cancer cases and nearly 10 million deaths are recorded globally each year, with breast cancer ranking as the most diagnosed. She added that breast cancer alone accounts for 2.3 million new cases annually, while cervical cancer claims over 300,000 lives, mostly in low income countries.
She noted that Nigeria faces an even greater challenge, with 32,000 projected new breast cancer cases in 2025, making it one of the countries with the highest mortality rates. For cervical cancer, Nigeria ranks 7th globally, with between 12,000 and 17,000 new cases yearly and about 8,000 deaths, meaning 22 Nigerian women die daily from the disease.
“These figures reinforce the urgent need for regular cancer screening and sustained awareness campaigns,” she cautioned.
Since 2012, The Uplift Development Foundation has led several cancer advocacy, awareness, and screening initiatives in Ogun State, benefiting over 10,000 patients.
The Foundation has also established and equipped cancer care clinics at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu, General Hospital Ota, and General Hospital Ijaye in Abeokuta.
This year, Mrs Amosun revealed that her husband, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, is supporting the programme by funding free lumpectomy surgeries for women with suspicious lumps. Patients with malignant lumps will undergo further medical investigations, including histology.
“In past editions, we have sponsored chemotherapy for critical cases and, sadly, hospice care for those beyond medical help,” she added.
Mrs Amosun emphasised that the programme goes beyond free screenings, as it is designed to equip women with knowledge and encourage them to take responsibility for their health.
She also commended medical partners including FMC Abeokuta, the Ogun State chapter of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), doctors, nurses, and volunteers for their long-standing support. She expressed optimism that the 2025 programme would mark a new phase in reducing breast and cervical cancer in Ogun State, Nigeria, and globally.
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