NGO pledges to bridge cancer treatment gap

• Tasks stakeholders on early screening, patient support

From Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The Cancer Consciousness Initiative (CCI), a Nongovernmental Organisation (NGO) has reaffirmed its commitment to bridging the critical gap between rural communities and specialized oncology care across the North East sub-region.

The Chief Executive Officer of CCI, Dr. Hannatu Ayuba, stated this on Thursday during the Taraba State Pinktober 2026 Town Hall Meeting held in Jalingo, themed “No One Should Face Cancer Alone.”

Dr. Ayuba, who also serves as Programme Lead for the TeleOncology Hub and its Community Patient Navigation Programme, noted that the town hall was convened to bolster public awareness and address systemic barriers to cancer treatment.

She lamented that many residents in the North East continue to confront cancer with fear, misinformation, late presentation, financial strain, and limited access to medical specialists.

“Effective cancer control cannot rest on hospitals alone; it requires the active participation of government, traditional institutions, religious leaders, the private sector, development partners, and the media.

“Where a person lives or their financial circumstances should not determine whether they receive appropriate cancer care,” Dr. Ayuba emphasized.

She explained that through its TeleOncology Hub, the initiative provides vital support to patients via awareness campaigns, referral coordination, virtual specialist consultations, and multidisciplinary reviews to ensure no patient is abandoned during treatment.

In a goodwill message, the representative of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mallam Bashir Hammanjoda, reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to collaborate with health initiatives aimed at preventing and mitigating the burden of cancer across the region.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Medical Diagnostic Centre, Dr. Joel Rimamde, commended CCI for the initiative, urging citizens to embrace early diagnostic screening before symptoms advance.

Sharing her experience, breast cancer survivor Mrs. Rahila Adamu cautioned the public against relying on unverified native remedies, emphasizing that cancer is treatable when detected early.

Adamu, who received treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe, and the National Hospital, Abuja, encouraged patients to adhere strictly to medical prescriptions and proper nutrition during chemotherapy.