DEFEATING CANCER IN NIGERIA

Cancer mortality remains the highest in Africa and among the highest in the world, according to the World Health (2016). The LAPO Community Campaign for Cancer Control (LAPO-C4) was initiated by Founder, Dr. Godwin Ehigiamusoe in 2016 with a determination to address increasing cancer morbidity and mortality in Nigeria.

LAPO believes that poverty is further reinforced by ill-health with cancer and other chronic ailments linked to the increasing level of household poverty in Nigeria. Tackling the cancer behemoth would indirectly address other related challenges like children dropping out of school, household social insecurity and poverty. The LAPO-C4 project is therefore one of the holistic measures aimed at achieving our mission of improving the lives of poor and disadvantaged populations in Nigeria.

The project is being implemented in collaboration with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) drawn from Lagos, Rivers, Edo and Imo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja including JAKIN NGO (Lagos State), Bella Foundation for Child and Maternal Care (Edo State), Willi Johnson Foundation (Edo State), Partnership For Survival (Edo State), Initiative for the Development of the Next Generation (Edo State), Rehabilitation Initiative for Counselling and Healthcare (Edo State), Care and Development Centre (Rivers State), Rivers of Hope and Humanitarian Initiative (Rivers State), Better Community Life Initiative (Imo State), Our Lady of Perpetual Help Initiative (Imo State), Friends for Community and Youth Development (Imo State), Women Friendly Initiative (FCT-Abuja) and Yes to Life for Women and Children, (FCT-Abuja), Heartwells Complementary Services (Lagos State), Support Initiative for Sustainable Development (Rivers State) and Nativity Roma Cancer Support Centre (FCT- Abuja).

In 2017, LAPO advocated for policy change and improved access to cancer control services in collaboration with health institutions and other stakeholders in development. We also conducted mass enlightenment campaign and rapid screening, as well as referred those with health conditions to diagnostic and treatment centres in target states in partnership with partner CBOs. These activities were tailored toward reducing cancer-related deaths in Nigeria.

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