The NNPC Foundation Ltd, the social impact arm of NNPC Limited, has launched a childhood cancer awareness and early detection programme in rural Nigeria with a sensitisation and free eye screening exercise in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, in a statement, said the programme, organised in collaboration with the Akanimo Cancer Foundation, reflects the Foundation’s commitment to healthcare and social development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.
Arukwe, who was represented by Mrs. Eno Okon, stressed the need to close gaps in awareness, access, and treatment for childhood cancer, especially in rural areas, saying, ‘We cannot allow geography or income to hinder a child’s chances of survival. Impact must be inclusive.’
Since its creation in 2023, the NNPC Foundation has executed diverse projects nationwide. In 2024 alone, it provided free cancer screening for 3,441 Nigerians, performed over 6,000 cataract surgeries, glaucoma screenings, cardiovascular operations, and relief support for flood victims.
Founder of Akanimo Cancer Foundation, Dr. Idorenyin Usoh, who lost his 12-year-old son to cancer in 2019, said survival rates for childhood cancers in Nigeria remain at about 20%, compared to 80% in high-income countries.
He stressed the need to reach underserved communities where diagnosis and treatment remain scarce.
At the event, over 1,000 children from Etim Ekpo and neighbouring LGAs received free eye screening, with referrals supported by the Akanimo Foundation.
The Federal Ministry of Health, represented by Dr. Uche Nwokwu, commended the partnership, reiterating the government’s plans to expand access to cancer care through the WHO-backed Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.