Nigeria partners China to expand radiotherapy capacity

Nigeria is deepening its partnership with China to bolster cancer treatment capabilities, emphasizing technology transfer, professional training, and the expansion of radiotherapy services. The collaboration aims to address the nation's pressing cancer burden, which saw an estimated 127,763 new cases and 79,542 deaths in 2022.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, announced the strengthened ties at the LINK Global Summit in Beijing. Nigeria also formalized a strategic cooperation agreement with LinaTech, a Chinese firm specializing in advanced radiation therapy solutions. This partnership is expected to provide technical assistance, support joint research and development, and foster academic exchanges.

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Cancer remained a national priority, noting that Nigeria recorded an estimated 127,763 new cancer cases and 79,542 deaths in 2022.

Salako highlighted that breast, prostate, and cervical cancers account for over 40 percent of cancer-related deaths in Nigeria. While the country's mortality-to-incidence ratio has seen a slight improvement from 62.3 percent in 2022 to 59.6 percent in 2024, he acknowledged that substantial work remains. The government has intensified interventions since May 2023, covering prevention, awareness, early detection, treatment, financing, infrastructure, and research.

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Nigeria’s mortality-to-incidence ratio improved from 62.3 per cent in 2022 to 59.6 per cent in 2024, although he acknowledged that “significant work remained to be done.”

Key initiatives include the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into routine immunization in October 2023, reaching over 14 million girls. Programs like the National Initiative for Cancer Early Detection, Screening and Coordinated Access to Network Care (NICE-SCAN), and efforts by the Task Force for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer are also in place to improve early detection and referral.

Nigeria seeks to establish a joint work plan with China, including the twinning of its centers of excellence with Chinese cancer hospitals and the creation of a dedicated clinical training base in Nigeria to serve as a West African hub for advanced radiotherapy training. This collaboration signifies a critical step in enhancing Nigeria's capacity to combat cancer.

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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.