The Okapi Children Cancer Foundation has called for greater awareness and early detection of childhood cancer, saying prompt diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment can improve outcomes for children living with the disease.
The foundation made the call during its 10th annual childhood cancer awareness walk in Abuja, an initiative aimed at educating the public, mobilising support and raising resources for children undergoing cancer treatment and their families.
The 2026 walk was held under the theme, “Step by Step: We Rewrite the Story for Children Fighting Cancer,” with activities taking place across 10 cities in Nigeria and the United Kingdom under the banner “10 Cities. 1 Mission.”
Oluwakemi Adekanye, founder of the Okapi Cancer Foundation, said greater public knowledge of childhood cancer was needed to help parents, caregivers and communities recognise possible warning signs and seek medical attention early.
She said the foundation was hopeful that the government would give greater attention to childhood cancer through recently proposed health financing measures that include children.
Adekanye said awareness was particularly important because childhood cancer can be overlooked when parents and caregivers are unfamiliar with its symptoms. She urged adults to pay attention to unusual changes in children’s health and seek professional medical advice when concerns arise.
Nigeria’s National Cancer Screening Guidelines also state that early detection and diagnosis of childhood cancers can lead to better treatment outcomes. The guidelines emphasise the role of parents, community health workers and healthcare providers in recognising possible symptoms and ensuring timely referral.
The awareness campaign comes amid wider calls for stronger childhood cancer services in Nigeria. The Nigerian Cancer Society has called for improved financing, diagnostic infrastructure, specialised healthcare workers, essential medicines and stronger referral systems as part of efforts to improve cancer outcomes among children.
The foundation said it has supported more than 250 children living with cancer and reached thousands of students and community members through its awareness programmes. Its work includes advocacy, public education and support for children receiving treatment.
Hope Tobi, a childhood cancer survivor associated with the foundation, said participating in the walk gave young patients and survivors an opportunity to see that they were not alone in their experiences. She described the event as a source of encouragement for children undergoing treatment.
Dr. Ikenna Igbodika, a member of the foundation’s management team, said taking cancer education to communities was important because grassroots engagement allowed families to better understand the disease and available sources of support.
The foundation has also taken awareness and screening activities into communities in Abuja. During an August outreach in Karumajigi, Adekanye said the organisation’s activities were designed to help parents recognise unusual symptoms and seek specialist assessment before conditions became more difficult to manage.
Beyond early detection, stakeholders say improving childhood cancer outcomes requires access to timely diagnosis, affordable treatment and long term support for survivors and their families. Financial pressures associated with cancer care can also place significant strain on households, particularly where specialised services are limited.
For Nigeria, strengthening childhood cancer awareness at community level could help reduce delays in diagnosis while improvements in financing, specialist capacity and referral systems could expand access to treatment.
The Okapi Children Cancer Foundation said it would continue its awareness and advocacy efforts as part of its broader work to support children affected by cancer and promote greater public understanding of the disease.
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