Fighting cancer beyond the clinic: Using community and digital strategies to tackle a public health crisis

Cancer remains one of the fastest-growing public health threats in Nigeria. According to the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN 2020), Nigeria recorded over 124,000 new cancer cases and more than 78,000 cancer-related deaths in just one year. The most common cancers include breast cancer, which accounts for about 22.7% of cases, followed by cervical cancer (12.9%), prostate cancer (11.3%), and liver cancer (5.7%). These numbers continue to rise amidst challenges such as limited screening access, workforce shortages, and low public awareness, which continue to hinder effective prevention and care. At the forefront of efforts to change this narrative is Dr. Osayamen Sheriffe Igunma, a U.S.-based Nigerian public health expert whose work is redefining how cancer is addressed beyond hospital walls.

With a background in public health and an academic foundation in cancer epidemiology and digital health, Dr. Igunma brings a unique lens to cancer control efforts. He currently serves as Program Manager at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Office of Public Health Practice, where he oversees statewide cancer-related initiatives that incorporate infection prevention, workforce training, and the use of digital tools to improve healthcare delivery.

His work focuses on the science of cancer and the systems and structures that affect outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. Recognizing that health inequities often begin with access, Dr. Igunma has championed community-based approaches that make cancer information and preventive services more accessible to vulnerable populations. One of his recent studies, for example, explored the barriers that cancer patients face when navigating digital health systems, offering practical recommendations for tailoring technology to meet patients where they are.

Importantly, Dr. Igunma’s vision extends to low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, where cancer rates are rising but resources remain constrained. Drawing on lessons from the U.S. health system, he advocates for integrated public health responses that combine digital innovations, such as patient tracking systems, tele-oncology virtual clinics, electronic medical records, cancer registries, AI-assisted imaging diagnostics, and remote health education, with grassroots community mobilization.

Dr. Igunma also advocates stronger policy alignment between infectious and non-communicable disease (NCD) responses, noting that infrastructure developed for diseases like HIV and tuberculosis can be leveraged for cancer control. “If we can deliver antiretroviral therapy to remote areas,” he says, “we can certainly integrate breast exams, cervical cancer screening, and public education into those same systems.” Furthermore, Dr. Igunma recommends community-based cancer prevention strategies that bring screening, education, and supportive services directly to where people live and work. Through partnerships with NGOs, health ministries, and academic institutions in Nigeria, he supports outreach campaigns that provide breast and cervical cancer screening, promote HPV vaccination for adolescents, and train local healthcare workers to recognize early warning signs of cancer.

In addition to his research and programmatic work, Dr. Igunma has presented at major international forums and co-authored peer-reviewed papers that have influenced policy discussions on cancer prevention and survivorship care. His efforts align with growing global calls to address cancer not just as a medical issue but as a social and systemic challenge requiring multi-sectoral action.

As the burden of non-communicable diseases like cancer continues to grow, voices like Dr. Igunma’s provide a roadmap for holistic and scalable interventions. By bringing together community outreach, digital health, and evidence-based practice, he is helping to shift cancer control from the clinic to the community, where early action can save lives.

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