By Prosper Meneย
A US-based Nigerian nurse practitioner and oncology researcher, Edith Declan, has urged the Federal Government to provide free annual preventive health screenings to every citizen, emphasizing that early detection and prevention are the most effective and affordable strategies to curb cancer deaths in Nigeria.
Speaking from her position as a clinical translational research and community engagement nurse practitioner at Texas Southern University (TSU), Declan highlighted the lack of structured preventive healthcare and public awareness as major barriers to cancer control in the country.
“The first step in the cancer management continuum is prevention,” she said. “Our environment is filled with carcinogens in food, water, and air. We must start with awareness, early screening, and lifestyle changesโareas where government policy can have the greatest impact.”
Declan, a former oncology nurse with five years of experience, advocates making prevention the cornerstone of Nigeria’s cancer strategy. She proposes a national health card system entitling all citizens to free annual screenings, including prostate-specific antigen tests for men, mammograms and cervical cancer screenings for women.
“Early detection saves lives and reduces costs,” she stressed, noting that Nigeria’s cancer burden is exacerbated by delayed diagnoses and the absence of evidence-based policies.
Rather than creating new infrastructure, Declan recommends strengthening existing oncology institutes and research centers. She also called for partnerships with global pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer, Moderna, GSK, and Sanofi to conduct local cancer research. “These companies are eager to collaborate if invited,” she added.
Declan’s expertise stems from her focus on breast and prostate cancer prevention. She is leading a $2 million grant-funded program in Texas, offering free breast cancer screenings to 2,400 women and health education to 15,000 over three years. She plans to replicate this model in Nigeria soon, introducing free screenings for breast, prostate, cervical, and lung cancers alongside awareness campaigns.
“Cancer is enormous and multidimensional, affecting patients physically, mentally, and financially,” Declan said. “Without insurance, treatment is devastating. It often leads to depression and anxiety.”
She pinpointed modifiable risk factors driving Nigeria’s cancer rates, including excessive alcohol, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, smoking, and high-sugar foods. “Nigerians’ love for sugary drinks, fatty foods, and even high-glycemic staples like rice, combined with environmental hazards, multiplies the risks,” she warned.
Declan also criticized the scarcity of reliable medical and genetic data in Nigeria, which hinders identifying hereditary risks. “Many don’t know their family history and attribute cancer to witchcraft. Genetics plays a huge roleโif a first-degree relative had cancer, your risk rises significantly.”
As founder of Penn Health Institute and a former educator who trained over 1,000 nursing students, Declan integrates data-driven research into her teaching and community outreach. “I teach nurses evidence-based decision-making in class and healthier living in the field,” she explained.
Urging a shift from treatment-focused spending, she said: “Treatment is costly and inaccessible to most. Prevention is cheaper and saves more livesโit’s the smartest government investment.”
For aspiring oncology nurses, Declan advised: “Know your ‘why.’ It’s emotionally demanding, patients can deteriorate rapidly but the fulfillment from making a difference is immense.”
Declan, a global advocate for cancer awareness, remains committed to her homeland. “Cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence. With awareness, screening, and lifestyle changes, we can drastically reduce deaths in Nigeria.”
