THE CHURCH’S RESPONSE TO THE RISING CANCER BURDEN IN NIGERIA: A THEOLOGICAL APPRAISAL OF PREVENTION, EARLY DETECTION AND SUPPORTIVE CARE
Keywords:
Cancer Burden, Church Response, Theological Appraisal, Cancer Prevention, Supportive CareAbstract
The rising cancer burden in Nigeria constitutes a critical health, social, and pastoral challenge, compounded by inadequate awareness, misconceptions, late diagnosis, and limited access to screening and treatment. In several communities, cancer is interpreted primarily through spiritual explanations, a tendency that can delay medical intervention. This study examines the Church’s response to Nigeria’s rising cancer burden, focusing on prevention, early detection, and supportive care. Its objectives are to examine the Church’s contribution to cancer prevention and health education, assess its role in promoting early detection and timely medical intervention, and evaluate its pastoral, psychosocial, and advocacy responsibilities toward cancer patients and their families. The study is anchored on the Social Gospel Theory, which emphasises the Church’s responsibility to respond practically to human suffering. Methodologically, it adopts a qualitative documentary research design, drawing on scholarly, theological, and policy documents published between 2009 and 2026, identified through Google Scholar, PubMed, and African Journals Online and selected using defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Findings indicate that the Church holds considerable potential to promote cancer awareness, healthy lifestyles, screening, referral, counselling, and psychosocial support, but that inadequate health knowledge among religious leaders, persistent misconceptions, weak collaboration with health professionals, and over-reliance on spiritual remedies currently limit this contribution. The study concludes that the Church should complement, rather than replace, professional healthcare through informed and compassionate ministry, and recommends sustained cancer education, screening advocacy, clergy training, stronger partnerships with health institutions, and structured pastoral and psychosocial support for affected individuals and families.
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