In a bold show of compassion and commitment to fighting cancer in Nigeria, about 60 cancer patients have received financial assistance from the Medicaid Foundation to aid their treatment and care. The initiative, spearheaded by the foundation’s founder and President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, aims to ease the heavy financial burden faced by cancer patients across the country.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony in Abuja, Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu said the foundation’s financial support was raised through its annual Walk Away Cancer campaign and other charitable donations. She expressed concern over the rising cost of cancer treatment in Nigeria, noting that only a small percentage of patients can afford life-saving care.
“The cost of cancer treatment has become unbearable for most Nigerians. This ₦100 million support is a drop in the ocean, but it is meant to help 60 patients under our Patient Access to Care (PACE) programme, which covers diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and psychosocial support,” she said.
The event, held to mark the November 17 Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action, brought together government officials, development partners, and health stakeholders. It also highlighted the urgent need for early detection, domestic financing, and collaboration between government and private organizations to reduce Nigeria’s growing cancer burden.
Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu, a paediatrician and cancer advocate, acknowledged the government’s recent progress in establishing cancer centres and supporting the Cancer Health Fund but stressed that more must be done to make cancer care accessible and affordable.
“We appreciate the establishment of six new cancer centres and the e-wallet initiative under the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT),” she said. “However, we need the release of appropriated funds and increased budgetary allocations. The Cervical Cancer Elimination Task Force also needs more support to ensure screening is available in all primary healthcare centres.”
She further emphasized the importance of early detection and health insurance, revealing that a woman diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in Nigeria may need up to ₦25 million for treatment. “Most patients present at late stages, where survival drops to 25 percent, compared to 90 percent in developed countries,” she added.
Dr. Yakubu Agada-Amade, Director of Standards and Quality Assurance at the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), confirmed that the agency is addressing cancer financing challenges. He disclosed that over 240 cancer patients, mostly breast cancer cases, have already benefited from NHIA’s partnership with pharmaceutical companies such as Roche.
According to him, the NHIA is working with the National Assembly and the Ministry of Health to establish a Catastrophic Health Fund that will extend coverage to cancer, sickle cell disease, and renal failure.
NICRAT Director General, Prof. Usman Aliyu, also commended the Medicaid Foundation for its intervention, noting that while ₦200 million was budgeted for the Cancer Health Fund in 2025, it remains grossly inadequate for the country’s estimated 140,000 cancer patients.
“The government is committed to increasing funding and improving coordination. We are also set to launch a National Childhood Cancer Programme in 2025 with support from NGOs and international partners,” he said.
Prof. Aliyu praised Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu and the Medicaid Foundation for their leadership and compassion, describing their work as a model for effective public-private partnerships in healthcare.
The Medicaid Foundation’s latest initiative not only provides financial relief for cancer patients but also reignites the call for sustainable funding, early screening, and stronger healthcare policies to reduce cancer-related deaths in Nigeria.
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