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By Bukola Olajide
The First Lady of Kwara State and Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors Spouses Forum (NGSF), Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, has called for urgent, sustained action and stronger health system readiness to tackle the high mortality rate of ovarian cancer in Nigeria.
Speaking on Sunday at her office, Government House, Ilorin, during a multi-state ovarian cancer event organised by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) in collaboration with the NGSF, Professor Abdulrazaq described the disease as the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers.
She stated that the lack of standard screening tests for early detection makes public awareness, risk factor recognition, and prompt clinical presentation essential to saving lives.
“Ovarian cancer remains a significant and growing public health concern for women in Nigeria, requiring urgent and sustained attention to prevention, community awareness, early clinical presentation, timely diagnosis, appropriate referral, treatment, and palliative care,” she said.
Citing estimates from the Global Cancer Observatory, the First Lady revealed that 3,687 women in Nigeria were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2024, resulting in 2,605 deaths.
She noted that these numbers highlight an urgent need for a coordinated national response to address delays across the cancer care continuum.
Prof. Abdulrazaq explained that the initiative, spearheaded by NICRAT and the NGSF, will roll out across six pilot states: Kwara, Osun, Imo, Edo, Borno, and Kano, with Kwara State leading the initial implementation phase.
On the ongoing state-level interventions, she praised the Kwara State Government under Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for investments in healthcare infrastructure.
She cited the creation of the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital, the ongoing construction of the Abdulsamad Rabiu Oncology Centre, and repeated rounds of free community cancer screenings across all 16 Local Government Areas.
She further reaffirmed the commitment of her office and the Ajike People Support Center to advocate for expanded healthcare coverage, clinical research, and partnerships with bodies such as the Kwara Health Insurance Agency and multinational organisations.
Professor Abdulrazaq urged women across the country not to ignore persistent or unusual body symptoms and called on family members and community leaders to support early medical visits.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, urged women to seek prompt medical attention for persistent symptoms.In her remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, stressed that awareness should be a continuous commitment by families, communities and health institutions.
A representative of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Professor Kike Adesina, commended the Kwara State Government and the First Lady for championing the campaign, explaining that ovarian cancer is often difficult to recognise because its symptoms are usually subtle.
In a remark, a gynaecologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Prof. Gboyega Oluwole, expressed hope that the campaign would inspire greater community action, strengthen health policies and give hope to people affected by the disease.
