The Nigerian government has teamed up with China to improve cancer care. This partnership focuses on technology transfer, training, research, and expanding radiotherapy capacity.
Iziaq Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, shared this news during his opening speech at the LINK Global Summit on Innovation and Practice in Oncology in Beijing, China.
A statement was released on Saturday by Ado Bako, Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The statement also mentioned that Nigeria signed a cooperation agreement with LinaTech, a Chinese company known for advanced radiation therapy solutions.
Salako emphasized that cancer is a major health issue in Nigeria. He noted that the country had about 127,763 new cancer cases and 79,542 deaths in 2022.
He pointed out that breast, prostate, and cervical cancers made up more than 40 percent of cancer deaths in Nigeria.
The minister said Nigeria’s mortality-to-incidence ratio improved from 62.3 percent in 2022 to 59.6 percent in 2024. But he acknowledged that "significant work remained to be done."
Since May 2023, the government has sped up efforts in cancer prevention, awareness, early detection, treatment, and research.
Salako noted the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into routine immunization in October 2023, reaching over 14 million girls aged nine to 14 years.
He also talked about the National Initiative for Cancer Early Detection, Screening and Coordinated Access to Network Care (NICE-SCAN) and initiatives from the Task Force for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer. These efforts aim to strengthen early detection and referral processes.
The minister said the new partnership with China will provide technical support in radiotherapy. It will also promote joint research, academic exchanges, and professional capacity building.
Salako noted that Nigeria is a founding member of the LINK Global Oncology Alliance. The country took part in launching the Radiotherapy Working Group of the China-Africa Hospital Alliance.
He wants the cooperation agreement to lead to a joint work plan with specific focal persons and set goals every quarter.
"We want to see the twinning of our cancer centres of excellence, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), and our tertiary hospitals like the National Hospital, Abuja, with the Chinese cancer hospitals," he said.
Salako also called for a designated clinical training base in Nigeria. This base would serve as a West African center for advanced radiotherapy training.
He stressed that Nigerian professionals, including radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiotherapy technologists, and biomedical engineers, should have chances for fellowship training in China.
The minister said Nigeria’s long-term goal is not just to get cancer equipment but also to build the skills needed to install, maintain, and eventually make cancer technologies locally.
"Machines without people are monuments," he said. He added that trained staff, maintenance systems, and ongoing technical support are essential for every linear accelerator installed.
By 2030, Nigeria will also focus on technology transfer, local assembly of radiotherapy and imaging equipment, and joint clinical trials. They aim to use cancer registry-linked research, artificial intelligence-assisted treatment planning, adaptive radiotherapy, and tele-oncology collaborations.
Salako said the government is providing incentives for health manufacturing. This includes zero-duty and zero-VAT measures to encourage local production and technology transfer.
He mentioned that six cancer centres of excellence are being built, with three already completed in Katsina, Enugu, and Benin.
These centres have modern linear accelerators, and work is ongoing on the remaining three.
He also revealed that President Bola Tinubu approved the purchase and installation of 35 more linear accelerators between 2026 and 2028 to further expand access to radiotherapy.
The minister said they have strengthened NICRAT, which has trained about 140 early-career cancer scientists and supported 24 research grants.
He identified the National Cancer Access Programme, Catastrophic Health Insurance Scheme, National Cancer Health Fund, and Social Determinants of Cancer Care Fund as ways to improve access to cancer medicines and lessen the financial burden on patients and their families.
Salako said these efforts are part of the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan 2026, 2030. This plan focuses on prevention, decentralized diagnosis and treatment, financial risk protection, oncology workforce development, clinical trials, and cancer registries.
He also mentioned the recent launch of the Blood Cancer Consortium to improve coordination in the national cancer control efforts.
The government aims for the partnership with China to translate innovations in cancer care into real benefits for patients.
"Innovation in oncology is meaningful only where it reaches the patient. Let this summit be remembered not for what was displayed, but for what was delivered. Nigeria is ready, our plan is costed, our partners are welcome, and the patients are waiting," he said.
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