By Justina Auta
Stakeholders have renewed calls for increased funding and commitment toward childhood cancer research, treatment, and care to ensure that every Nigerian child can access life-saving therapies and quality health services.
They made the call during the ninth annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk, organised by the Okapi Children Cancer Foundation (OkapiCCF) in Abuja, to spotlight rising challenges in paediatric oncology.
Ms. Kemi Adekanye, Founder of OkapiCCF, highlighted the growing number of children affected by cancer who could not afford treatment due to high costs, calling for urgent government and private sector intervention.
Adekanye said the annual awareness walk was aimed at raising awareness, advocating for more funding, emotional support, and promoting progress toward a future free of childhood cancer in Nigeria.
“A child with cancer misses out on school, friendships, and normal life. Families are also emotionally and financially stretched by the pain and cost of managing long-term cancer treatments.
“Childhood cancer is not a death sentence. No child should die due to lack of funds.
“We need stronger support systems and subsidised treatment options to ease the burden on families,” Adekanye added.
Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, emphasised the need for accurate national data to guide effective strategies, allocate resources, and reduce the overall burden of childhood cancer.
“Science runs on data. Without statistics on childhood cancer, government cannot plan, budget, or implement effective policies for children. Data is the foundation for research and cancer care planning,” he noted.
He further advocated the establishment of more childhood cancer centres, adding that increased data would drive research, national intervention, and attract appropriate funding to sustain cancer care programmes.
“Government must increase its cancer care budget, not just for adults but also for children.
“A robust national budget for paediatric cancer is essential for survival and care improvements,” Omonisi stated.
Dr Uduak Offiong, a paediatrician at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, applauded OkapiCCF for their ongoing financial support, which she said enabled many families to complete treatment.
“Lack of funds is a major obstacle in childhood cancer care, even more than late detection. But when parents know there is support, they commit to completing their child’s treatment,” she said.
Mrs Ruth Samuel, mother of an eight-year-old cancer survivor, Stefan, expressed her experience, stressing that financial assistance helped families focus on their child’s recovery instead of worrying about hospital bills.
She said many parents were forced to abandon care or seek unproven alternatives due to high treatment costs, which often led to deterioration in their child’s condition and reduced chances of survival.
Samuel called for increased investment in early diagnosis, affordable care, and life-saving treatments, adding that reduced financial pressure could greatly improve childhood cancer survival rates across Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
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