News & outreach

MHFCO joined survivors, families and partner organisations for the Cancer Survivors Awareness Walk, themed "Hope in every step". The MHFCO logo was carried on the walk banner alongside partners including the Hope Beyond Cancer Foundation and Gloria's Cancer Foundation.

Working with the Shades of Bloom Health Awareness Foundation, MHFCO took part in a community cancer awareness outreach in March 2026, and in June 2026 joined volunteers taking the message into shops and markets with placards reading "Know your body, stay aware" and "Healing minds, fighting cancer together".

In March 2026, the MHFCO team distributed ostomy bags and care supplies to people living with a stoma, both in the community and through a hospital team. To protect their privacy, we only publish photos of people receiving supplies when they have given written consent.

During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, MHFCO joined the Global Colon Cancer Association and the Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria for an awareness outreach at St Augustine Catholic Church, Berger Lugbe. Our speaker showed the congregation an ostomy pouch as part of the talk, helping to take away the fear and silence around life with a stoma.

Watch the awareness message from this outreach

For Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, MHFCO held an awareness outreach at COCIN Asokoro, Abuja, in partnership with the Global Colon Cancer Association. Our team spoke to the congregation about the warning signs of colorectal cancer, the importance of early screening, and what life with a stoma really looks like.

Volunteers carried messages such as "Cancer is not a death sentence," "Eat right, move often, check regularly," and "Protecting your future," opening conversations many families had never had before.

Led by our Gombe programme team and also in partnership with the Global Colon Cancer Association, this outreach brought colorectal cancer education to a full congregation at ECWA Goodnews Church, Gombe. Attendees learned how to recognise symptoms early and where to seek help.

MHFCO joined partner organisations, including the Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria, for a community awareness and screening outreach at the Chief's Palace, Kadauma 3, Abuja.

Through our partnership with Friends of Ostomates Worldwide–USA (FOW-USA), MHFCO received a shipment of donated ostomy supplies, documented with a certificate of donation. The supplies are distributed to ostomates who cannot afford them.

Policy decisions about cancer care are made in meeting rooms, and the people living with cancer and ostomies need to be heard there. MHFCO takes part in national events and stakeholder meetings with government agencies, health professionals and fellow organisations to speak for access to affordable care, medicines and ostomy supplies.

• Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners Association of Nigeria: maiden biennial scientific conference, Abuja, May 2026
• "Beyond the Bag" Instagram Live with the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, featuring our CEO, 9 April 2026, and the #WalkAwayCancer conversation, April 2026
• International HPV Awareness Day, Abuja, 4 March 2026
• National Hypertension/NCDs Media and Patients Advocacy Orientation, convened by the National Non-communicable Diseases Patients Advocacy Working Group, Wuye, Abuja, February 2026
• World Cancer Day Symposium on cancer, conflict and insecurity in Nigeria, February 2026
• NCD Impact StoryLab: inception meeting of the Media Community of Practice, seed grant launch and press conference on public financing for non-communicable diseases, convened by the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), Abuja, 11 December 2025
• 6th Legislative Summit on Health, November 2025
• Medicaid Cancer Foundation: disbursement of ₦100 million to cancer patients, November 2025
• National Dialogue on the Medical Use of Radioactive Substances in Nigeria, with the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Cancer Society, October 2025
• International Cancer Week 2025 (13–17 October 2025), held under the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare
• Innovative Cancer Medicines Demonstration Study stakeholder event, with the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, National Hospital Abuja and the Clinton Health Access Initiative among its partners
• Nigerian Cancer Society Hall of Fame and the flag-off of an integrated health campaign supported by national and international health partners

See all advocacy photos   Watch interviews

On 29 November 2025, MHFCO took part in the Gwarinpa General Hospital nurses' medical outreach in the Kadokuchi community, behind Next Cash and Carry, Abuja.