Niger State is offering free cancer diagnostic services at public health facilities, the state’s Health Commissioner Dr. Murtala Muhammad-Bagana announced Wednesday, as part of ongoing efforts to improve early detection.

Since 2022, over 22,000 women have been screened for cervical cancer, more than 300 patients treated, and nearly 445,000 girls vaccinated against HPV. Bagana stressed that late diagnosis; not lack of treatment, is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Nigeria.

He urged residents to adopt healthier lifestyles, get vaccinated, and participate in regular screenings.