From Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
As the world commemorates World Cancer Day, Hassy’s Haven Foundation is calling for urgent action to address the growing burden of cancer, particularly among indigent women who suffer and die silently due to poverty, stigma, and lack of access to timely care.
Speaking on the significance of the day, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hassy’s Haven Foundation, Hussaina Mohammed Yakubu, said, “World Cancer Day is a reminder that cancer is not just a medical condition but a social justice issue.”
“Too many women are dying, not because cancer is untreatable, but because they are poor, unheard, and unsupported. No woman should have to choose between feeding her children and accessing cancer care. No patient should walk this journey alone,” she said.
Yakubu stressed that the Foundation, established in memory of her late twin sister, Hassana ‘Hassylove’ Yakubu, who battled cancer with courage for eight years, remains committed to providing emotional support, advocacy, sensitization, and financial assistance to indigent female cancer patients, as well as widows and orphans affected by the disease.
“My sister fought cancer with dignity, strength, and hope. Through Hassy’s Haven Foundation, we have chosen to turn pain into purpose—by standing with women who have no voice, no access, and no safety net,” Hussaina added.
The Foundation is calling on government at all levels, private-sector players, health institutions, and development partners to strengthen cancer prevention strategies, invest in early screening programs, subsidize treatment costs, and decentralize oncology services to reach rural and underserved communities.
Hassy’s Haven Foundation is also urging the public to break the culture of silence and stigma surrounding cancer, emphasizing that early detection saves lives and that community support improves survival outcomes.
“On this World Cancer Day, we are not just wearing ribbons; we are demanding action. Cancer care must be a right, not a privilege. Together, we can reduce preventable deaths and restore hope to thousands of families,” Yakubu said.
