Hussaini Ibrahim 
KATSINA, Nigeria – Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has called on philanthropists, development partners and private organisations to support efforts to combat breast cancer in Katsina State following the completion of a major free medical mission that screened hundreds of women and performed dozens of surgeries.
The governor made the appeal on Friday during a send-off dinner organised in honour of the Revive Mission Belgium team and the Pledging Aid Charity Foundation (PAC-F) after the completion of the first phase of a breast cancer intervention programme.
The initiative focuses on improving breast cancer screening, early detection and treatment services for women across the state.
“Governments, foundations and partners must work hand in hand. Only through collaboration can we effectively confront this devastating challenge affecting our people,” Radda says.
The governor notes that the government alone cannot adequately address complex healthcare challenges such as cancer, stressing that partnerships remain critical to improving healthcare outcomes.
He commends Revive Mission Belgium and PAC-F for supporting women through free medical services and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing breast cancer-related deaths.
“This intervention has significantly improved early detection, screening and access to treatment for our women. It is a major step forward in reducing the burden of breast cancer,” he says.
Radda also praises healthcare workers and the Katsina State Ministry of Health for ensuring the successful implementation of the programme.
Earlier, the founder of PAC-F, Hajiya Fatima Dikko Radda, says the intervention forms part of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and international partners aimed at improving cancer care.
She explains that the medical mission officially commenced on May 26, while the broader programme was launched on June 8 at the General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital.
According to her, the initiative records more than 800 consultations, screens over 600 women and performs 50 life-saving surgeries.
“Katsina State is now the third location globally, after the United Kingdom and Belgium, to benefit from the advanced medical equipment used for this exercise,” she says.
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Korede Abdullah