By Sebastine Obasi

CANCER patients in Nigeria will soon heave a sigh of relief as a leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate, Sahara Group, has donated N120 million  towards the cause of acquiring Mobile Cancer Centres (MCC).

The MCC is  a clinic on wheels with state-of-the-art facilities for screening, follow-up and treatment including surgeries for pre-cancer and early cancer cases. The centre also offers screening for ten cancer-related killer diseases, including hepatitis, diabetes, and malaria, among others, ultimately helping to improve life expectancy in Nigeria where at least 100,000 cancer cases occur annually. Sahara  Group  made the donation when Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Patron of #GivingTuesday hosted stakeholders committed to tackling the cancer scourge across the nation through the supply of Mobile Cancer Centres.

In 2012, the United Nations Foundation started the Giving Tuesday initiative to drive philanthropy globally through private and public sector collaboration.