Nigeria and China Strengthen Cancer Care Partnership

Nigeria and China are set to deepen their cooperation in cancer care, as announced by Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, during the Link Global Summit on Innovation and Practice in Oncology in Beijing, China. The Nigerian government is seeking technical support, joint research, technology transfer, and expanded radiotherapy capacity to enhance cancer treatment outcomes.

Salako stated that Nigeria aims to shape global cancer innovation and bring relevant technologies back home. Key initiatives include the inauguration of the Radiotherapy Working Group of the China-Africa Hospital Alliance and the Link Global Oncology Alliance, along with a strategic cooperation agreement with LinaTech, a Chinese radiation therapy technology company.

Salako highlighted Nigeria's rising cancer burden, with an estimated 127,763 new cases and 79,542 deaths in 2022. The government has intensified efforts in cancer prevention and treatment infrastructure under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, including the introduction of the HPV vaccine in October 2023.