NICRAT Holds Stakeholder Forum to Integrate Cancer Screening into Kebbi’s Family Planning Services

By Umar Faruk, Birnin Kebbi 

Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State — December  18, 2025(Series news online)

The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) convened a one‑day stakeholder engagement in Birnin Kebbi to discuss the incorporation of basic cancer prevention and screening services into the state’s existing family‑planning programmes. Participants included representatives from the Kebbi State Ministry of Health, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, traditional and community leaders, development partners, civil‑society organisations, and health professionals.

In her opening remarks, Hajiya Zainab Ahmad, a NICRAT representative, emphasized the rationale for the initiative:

“The integration of cancer screening into family‑planning services will help bridge existing gaps, promote early detection and reduce cancer‑related morbidity and mortality.”

She noted that cancer remains a growing public‑health challenge in Nigeria, with many cases detected only at advanced stages due to low awareness and limited access to organized screening. Leveraging the extensive reach of family‑planning clinics at the primary‑health level, she said, offers a strategic platform to deliver cancer prevention, screening, and referral services, especially for women.

Ahmad added that the project is being implemented under NICRAT’s NICE‑SCAN Programme in partnership with the Federal and State Ministries of Health and other collaborators, with the aim of strengthening primary‑health systems and generating evidence for national scale‑up.

Dr. Ishak Lawal, NICRAT’s lead for the pilot integration of basic cancer preventive services into family planning, highlighted the importance of stakeholder collaboration:

“The success of this pilot depends largely on the commitment and ownership of state actors and community leaders.”

He disclosed that NICRAT has finalized plans to pilot the integrated service model in Kebbi, describing the current engagement as a critical step toward effective rollout.

Earlier in the session, the State Family Planning coordinator, Hajiya  Hauwa Muhammed, presented an overview of the current family‑planning landscape in Kebbi. She identified data‑quality issues stemming from poor documentation as a major concern, alongside stock‑outs of family‑planning commodities, irregular supply of consumables, and inadequate supportive supervision.

A cross‑section of stakeholders expressed strong support for the initiative. Their comments underscored the project’s potential to improve preventive health care and curb late‑stage cancer presentations in the state.

The forum concluded with a consensus on the need for sustained partnership to ensure the pilot’s implementation and long‑term sustainability.