A Kaduna-based non-profit organisation, Hassy’s Haven Foundation, has called for urgent, coordinated national action to tackle the growing cancer burden among indigent women in Nigeria, warning that poverty, stigma and poor access to healthcare are fuelling preventable deaths.
The Foundation made the appeal on Wednesday as the world marked World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4, to raise awareness and mobilise global action against cancer.
Late Diagnosis, High Costs Driving Deaths
Hassy’s Haven Foundation lamented that despite the availability of cancer treatment options, many Nigerian women continue to present at advanced stages of the disease due to limited access to early detection services, poor health information and the prohibitive cost of care.
According to the Foundation, cancer has moved from being a distant health concern to a daily reality that is destroying families, draining household incomes and cutting short the lives of women in their most productive years.
Cancer Is a Social Justice Issue – Founder
Speaking on the significance of World Cancer Day, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Hussaina Yakubu, described cancer as not only a medical challenge but a profound social justice issue.
“Too many women are dying, not because cancer is untreatable, but because they are poor, unheard and unsupported. No woman should ever have to choose between feeding her children and accessing cancer care,” Yakubu said.
She noted that beyond medical treatment, many patients are left to battle the disease in isolation, stressing that emotional support and community understanding are just as vital as drugs and hospital care.
Foundation Born From Personal Loss
Yakubu explained that
“My sister fought cancer with dignity, strength and hope. Through this Foundation, we have chosen to turn pain into purpose by standing with women who have no voice, no access and no safety net,” she said.
She disclosed that the Foundation currently provides emotional support, advocacy, public sensitisation and financial assistance to indigent female cancer patients, as well as widows and orphans affected by the disease.
Call for Government, Private Sector Action
The Foundation urged governments at all levels to prioritise cancer prevention by investing in affordable and widespread screening programmes, while strengthening public health education across communities.
It also called on the private sector, health institutions and development partners to subsidise treatment costs and expand oncology services beyond major cities to rural and underserved areas.
Yakubu stressed that decentralising cancer care would significantly reduce late diagnoses and improve survival outcomes for women who currently lack access to specialised health facilities.
Breaking the Silence Around Cancer
She further appealed to the public to help dismantle the culture of fear, silence and stigma surrounding cancer, noting that misinformation often discourages women from seeking help early.
“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.
It’s time to break the silence and save lives.
#WorldCancerDay #CancerAwareness #WomensHealth #EndCancerStigma #HealthcareForAll #NigeriaHealth
