Increase cancer fund to protect vulnerable Nigerians — Uzodinma

By Abubakar Yunusa

The First Lady of Imo State and Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer, Barrister Chioma Uzodinma, on Monday called for an upward review of the Nigerian Cancer Health Fund to expand coverage and reduce financial burdens on vulnerable Nigerians battling cancer.

Uzodinma made the appeal at a World Cancer Day symposium held in Abuja, organised by Project Pink Blue, with the theme, ‘Cancer, conflicts and insecurity in Nigeria: What can we do to ensure access to cancer care for vulnerable communities amid conflicts and insecurity?’

She stressed that the existing cancer funding framework must be broadened to accommodate a wider range of cancers and subsidised treatment for indigent patients, warning that many families were facing catastrophic out-of-pocket healthcare costs.

The FLAC chairperson urged the Federal Government and stakeholders to intensify targeted community and radio-based awareness campaigns to combat misinformation, reduce stigma and encourage early cancer detection and prompt treatment.

She also called for strengthened implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan across states, noting that effective dissemination and domestication of the policy would ensure alignment between federal priorities and sub-national health interventions.

Uzodinma further advocated the continuous expansion of cancer services under the National Health Insurance Scheme to provide financial protection for patients across the country.

She cited Imo State as an example, stating that registered residents under the state insurance scheme currently enjoy free screening for various cancers.

“In Imo State today, under the insurance scheme, once you are registered, you can receive free cancer screening — all types of cancer screening. Therefore, we advocate for more states to follow suit,” she said.

The First Lady also canvassed policy reforms aimed at retaining oncology professionals through incentives, improved working conditions and career development opportunities, warning that brain drain was weakening Nigeria’s cancer response capacity.

She urged the government to expand the recently introduced executive order granting zero tax on pharmaceutical inputs, saying the move would ensure that affordable and quality cancer medicines reach conflict-prone and underserved communities.

Uzodinma emphasised that long-term cancer control efforts must focus on systemic transformation through multi-sectoral partnerships involving government agencies, private organisations and international partners.

According to her, rebuilding and modernising health infrastructure destroyed by conflict, including transport networks and medical supply chains, remains critical to improving healthcare delivery.

She also highlighted the need for sustained investment in local research and data systems, particularly the proposed National Cancer Registries and clinical trials by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment in Nigeria, to enable evidence-based decision-making.

Uzodinma added that cancer prevention and control should be integrated into national security and development policies to ensure equitable healthcare access during post-conflict recovery and reconstruction.

She called for nationwide expansion of survivor support networks to provide psychosocial care, patient navigation services and economic empowerment initiatives for cancer survivors.

“The fight against cancer in Nigeria calls for unity in the face of our unique and complex challenges. I urge all stakeholders to commit to these shared solutions while honouring survivors, caregivers and healthcare workers,” she said.

Also speaking, a former senator representing Abia North, Mao Ohabunwa, declared cancer treatment a national emergency, particularly in conflict-affected regions.

He said insecurity had prevented many patients from accessing screening and treatment facilities, worsening mortality rates.

“I want to call that cancer treatment should be a national emergency, especially in vulnerable areas where conflict has prevented patients from seeking treatment and screening,” Ohabunwa said.

He added, “We are having difficulties here. Imagine those in vulnerable areas. How do they move? It is not possible.”

A breast cancer survivor and patient navigator with Project Pink Blue, Mercy Spoporuchi, also identified insecurity as a major barrier preventing patients from accessing life-saving care.

She lamented that the absence of functional cancer treatment centres in many states had forced patients to travel long distances, often with fatal consequences.

“Imagine if we had hospitals in every state. Patients would not travel over 500 kilometres to access care,” she said.

Spoporuchi recalled cases of patients who travelled to Abuja for treatment but died after returning to their states due to lack of emergency care facilities.

“These are just the cases we know. There are many more we do not know. Insecurity and lack of access to care remain serious challenges for cancer patients and survivors,” she added.