Over 3,440 Nigerians Benefit from NNPC Foundation’s Free Cancer Screening Nationwide

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Roughly 3,441 Nigerians were beneficiaries of the free cancer screening exercise conducted nationwide by NNPC Foundation this year as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the organisation revealed at the weekend.

Wth the transition into a limited liability company and the eventual establishment of the NNPC Foundation, the national oil company had recently refocused its quest to help build a healthy populace.
It said in a note yesterday, “One of the focus areas of the NNPC Foundation’s healthcare intervention is cancer.
“The foundation has carried out free cancer screening campaigns across the country. Over 3,441 persons across the country have benefitted from the free screening intervention.”

NNPC Foundation listed one of the foundation’s free cancer screening campaigns tagged, “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening,” as having been held across the six geopolitical zones of the country, with screening centres in Kaduna, Rivers, Ondo, Benue, Imo and Gombe states.

The campaign, according to NNPC Foundation, went beyond providing free screening for breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, to providing health education, workshops, and consultations with healthcare professionals. It said this was aimed at empowering individuals to recognise early symptoms, adopt preventive health measures, and better understand the importance of regular screenings.

Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, explained that the foundation’s focus on cancer was because of the urgency the disease required for early detection to have a greater chance of survival.

Arukwe said, “The fight against cancer requires a collective effort and a commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare. This campaign is about more than just screening; it’s about saving lives, building awareness, and creating pathways to preventive care for Nigerians who need it most.
“In a country of over 200 million people, too many still lack access to the early detection tools that could make a life-saving difference.

“NNPC Foundation is dedicated to addressing this critical gap by bringing cancer screenings directly to communities. Early detection is crucial to improving survival rates, and this campaign is a vital step towards that goal.”
She said the foundation had earlier carried out a similar free cancer screening campaign in February in Abuja, where the objective was to counter the trend of late-stage diagnoses, which occured frequently due to limited access to screening facilities, cultural stigmas, and insufficient awareness.  

Cancer remains one of the most critical health challenges in Nigeria, with over 79,000 cancer-related deaths annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The most common cancers affecting Nigerian men include prostate and liver cancer, while women are predominantly impacted by breast and cervical cancers.

Arukwe stated, “The foundation’s intervention in the health sector is not restricted to the provision of free cancer screening. Earlier in the year, it also carried out a medical outreach in Garki community in Abuja. About 450 members of the community received health check-ups, treatment, and medical consumables.
“The foundation also conducted a similar medical outreach programme at the Utako Market in Abuja, which saw 291 traders benefit from the free screening for glaucoma.

“NNPC Limited’s rejuvenating touch in the health sector also reached those with heart diseases. The foundation went into partnership with the Nigerian Cardiac Society providing free heart surgeries to 40 patients with various heart conditions in the course of the year.”

The foundation’s other health and humanitarian interventions in the year also included the donation of over 20 trucks of food, water, medical consumables, and sanitary products to the Borno State government for victims of the devastating flood that ravaged the state earlier in September.
The foundation also donated 60 mattresses and dental accessories to Ile-Ife Special School for children with disabilities.