United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) and the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS) have launched the ‘United Against Cancer’ initiative to promote cancer awareness, early detection and access to treatment across Nigeria.
Speaking at a press briefing at the airline’s Lagos office, UNA Managing Director, Mazi Osita Okonkwo, said the campaign was built on the belief that the fight against cancer must begin with early detection.
Okonkwo, who disclosed that he is a cancer survivor and lost two sisters to the disease, said sharing personal experiences could give hope to patients and help dispel the belief that a cancer diagnosis amounts to a death sentence.
He explained that the initiative would have two phases, with the first focusing on prevention, public awareness and information sharing, while the second would address patients whose cancers were not detected early and require treatment.
Under the arrangement, passengers booking tickets through the airline’s platform will have the opportunity to make voluntary donations towards the campaign, with contributions ranging from N1,000 to N100,000 and above.
Okonkwo said all funds raised would be transferred directly to an account designated by the Nigerian Cancer Society to support its cancer intervention programmes.
He added that the airline would provide its booking platform and flights to support the initiative, while its cabin crew would lead onboard awareness activities through announcements and direct engagement with passengers.
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Information materials would also be made available in aircraft seat pockets, while co-branded campaign materials would be displayed at check-in counters.
The UNA managing director said the partnership was part of the airline’s commitment to supporting cancer awareness and treatment through its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Speaking at the event, NCS President, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, a pathologist, described the partnership as a significant intervention in addressing funding challenges affecting cancer care in Nigeria.
He commended the airline for initiating the campaign, noting that the programme was conceived and driven by UNA.
Omonisi highlighted the financial burden of cancer treatment on families, describing the disease as a catastrophic illness capable of pushing even wealthy households into financial hardship.
He said advanced treatments such as immunotherapy could cost as much as N50 million, while patients from rural communities often face additional expenses for transportation and temporary accommodation in major cities.
According to him, these costs sometimes force patients to discontinue treatment.
Omonisi said funds raised through the airline’s platform would support nationwide early screening, diagnostic assistance and treatment for indigent patients in urban centres and underserved rural communities.
He stressed that early detection significantly improves patients’ chances of successful treatment and called for organised national screening programmes.
The NCS president, however, warned against one-off screening exercises that identify cancer cases without providing sustained support for diagnosis and treatment.
He also called for continuous health education and community outreach to address misconceptions about cancer, including beliefs that early breast cancer symptoms are minor boils or that tumours are caused by spiritual attacks.
