The Civil Society for Cancer Advocacy and Prevention (CiSCAP) has inaugurated a Caretaker Committee for its Plateau State Chapter, charging the new leadership to intensify cancer awareness, promote early detection and strengthen community-based advocacy across the state.
The committee is expected to coordinate civil society organisations involved in cancer-related interventions, mobilise communities for cancer education and screening, strengthen referral pathways for suspected cases and advocate for the effective utilisation of the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) North Central Zonal Cancer Centre.
The inauguration, held at the APIN Centre Conference Hall, JUTH, was organised under the theme, “Mobilizing Civil Society to Support Cancer Prevention in Plateau State.”
The event brought together representatives of civil society organisations, faith-based groups, development partners and other stakeholders committed to strengthening cancer prevention and control in Plateau State.
Speaking at the ceremony, CiSCAP National Coordinator, Tokbish Yohanna Mizak, said the organisation was committed to building a Nigeria where no one dies from cancer because of ignorance.
Mizak urged the newly inaugurated committee to mobilise communities and relevant stakeholders towards cancer prevention, early detection and timely treatment, stressing that cancer should not automatically be regarded as a death sentence.
He noted that effective cancer advocacy requires sustained grassroots engagement, accurate information and collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations, healthcare providers and communities.
The National Coordinator tasked the Plateau chapter to use its position to bridge gaps in cancer awareness and access to appropriate services, particularly by ensuring that members of the public understand the importance of screening and seeking medical attention at the earliest signs of the disease.
Responding on behalf of the new committee, the State Coordinator, Suleiman Muhammad Sani, pledged to work closely with relevant partners and organisations to advance cancer advocacy and take cancer education to communities across Plateau State.
Sani said the committee would prioritise grassroots mobilisation and stakeholder collaboration to ensure that cancer prevention messages reach people at the community level.
He expressed the committee’s readiness to work with CiSCAP national leadership, government institutions, healthcare providers, civil society organisations, religious bodies and other partners to strengthen cancer awareness, prevention and referral services in the state.
Earlier, cancer survivors and advocates who shared their experiences during a special session highlighted the importance of early detection and appropriate treatment in improving cancer outcomes.
Hajiya Tawakkaltu and Theresa Abashe drew attention to the dangers associated with delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment, urging members of the public to seek qualified medical care and avoid practices that could further complicate cancer management.
In separate goodwill messages, representatives of the Women’s Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Pastor Mrs Hannatu Kim, and the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Dahiru Babale Ibrahim, pledged their organisations’ support and cooperation with the newly inaugurated CiSCAP leadership.
They stressed the need for broader collaboration among religious organisations, civil society groups, communities and healthcare institutions to address misconceptions surrounding cancer and encourage preventive healthcare and early screening.
The newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee comprises Suleiman Muhammad Sani, State Coordinator; Mary Gyang, Deputy Coordinator; Nicky Mariah Sambo, Secretary; Baba Shuaibu, Assistant Secretary; Wika Gofwan, Publicity Secretary; Yusuf Dorcas Lenkat, Treasurer; and Bittim Balle, Financial Secretary.
Others are Theresa Abashe, Programme Officer; Sherifat Mustapha Abdulhamid, Assistant Programme Officer; while Chungyang Yakubu Bargins and Hajiya Tawakkaltu serve as members of the Technical Team.
The ceremony also featured the administration of the oath of office to the newly inaugurated members by the CiSCAP National Coordinator, as well as goodwill messages and discussions on strengthening civil society participation in cancer prevention and control in Plateau State.
The inauguration marks a fresh step towards building a coordinated civil society response to cancer in Plateau State, with emphasis on prevention, early detection, appropriate treatment, community mobilisation and improved access to cancer care services.
