By Mustapha Salisu
As part of preparations for the 2026 World Cancer Day (WCD) celebration, the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS), Kano State Chapter, on January 20, 2026, convened its second stakeholders’ meeting to deliberate on strategies for strengthening cancer awareness, early detection, screening, and support services, with a particular focus on women in Kano State.
The meeting, which brought together key partners, civil society organizations, medical professionals, and cancer advocates, was declared open by the Chairman of the Society, Malam Salisu Yusuf, who commended participants for their dedication and commitment to advancing the fight against cancer in the state.
During the session, Dr. Musa Bello presented an overview of achievements by collaborating organizations, including Save A Life Cancer Awareness and Support Network, AMG Foundation, and CHR Foundation.
He highlighted the establishment of the Cancer Trust Fund, a joint initiative aimed at supporting cancer prevention, awareness, early detection, and patient care interventions across the state.
In her remarks, the Secretary, Hajiya Hauwa Kakudi, underscored the importance of collaboration and unity among stakeholders under the Nigeria Cancer Society’s platform.
She emphasized that only through collective responsibility and sustained partnership could meaningful and measurable impact be achieved in tackling cancer-related challenges in Kano.
The meeting featured discussions on key action areas, including advocacy, outreach, media engagement, and resource mobilization. Stakeholders resolved to carry out strategic advocacy visits to relevant government offices and traditional institutions to strengthen partnerships and institutional support.
They also outlined a comprehensive plan for this year’s World Cancer Day activities, including media awareness campaigns across popular platforms such as Mahassa TV and Radio, Rahama Radio, Radio Kano, Arewa 24, Liberty Radio, Guaranty FM, Cool FM, and Wazobia FM.
Two major community outreach programs were also scheduled to hold at R/Zaki on February 1, 2026, and in Bichi Local Government Area on February 7, 2026. These programs will feature public lectures on breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, as well as free breast and cervical cancer screening services for women.
On resource mobilization, the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) pledged manpower and technical assistance for the outreach programs.
Breast cancer survivor and advocate, Hajiya Halisa, committed to sharing her personal cancer journey during awareness events to inspire early detection and reduce stigma. Similarly, Dr. Maryam Nasir volunteered to offer free breast cancer screening services at Kwanar Dawaki Hospital and pledged to cover transportation costs for beneficiaries.
To strengthen sustainability, members unanimously agreed to introduce a membership contribution of N10,000, to be temporarily managed by Hajiya Hauwa Kakudi pending the opening of an official NCS bank account. The meeting also featured the presentation of the 2024/2025 NCS Scorecard by the President of the Society, highlighting achievements, progress, and areas for improvement.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with participants expressing satisfaction with the deliberations and reaffirming their commitment to the successful implementation of the 2026 World Cancer Day activities. Members agreed to reconvene ahead of the outreach programs to fine-tune implementation strategies.
Overall, the session was described as productive, inclusive, and impactful, marking another significant step toward strengthening cancer awareness, prevention, early detection, and care in Kano State.