• The Membership Club
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • PT Hausa
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Store
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Premium Times Nigeria
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects & Partnerships
    • AUN-PT Data Hub
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
  • Home
  • Gender
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Opinion
  • Health
    • News Reports
    • Special Reports and Investigations
      • Health Specials
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Features and Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • Projects & Partnerships
    • AUN-PT Data Hub
    • #EndSARS Dashboard
    • Parliament Watch
    • #PandoraPapers
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • AGAHRIN
Premium Times Nigeria
BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad BUA Group Ad
A Radiotherapy machine from Beaumont Hospital. Images licensed for use in corporate brochures and trade shows plus company newsletter. All other rights are reserved, and must be negotiated with Photographer before use. One year license, commencing with first appearance or one month after delivery of images, whichever occurs first. Provide Photographer three copies of printed pieces. License is granted contingent on payment in full as per terms. Copyright remains exclusive property of Photographer.

A Radiotherapy machine from Beaumont Hospital. Images licensed for use in corporate brochures and trade shows plus company newsletter. All other rights are reserved, and must be negotiated with Photographer before use. One year license, commencing with first appearance or one month after delivery of images, whichever occurs first. Provide Photographer three copies of printed pieces. License is granted contingent on payment in full as per terms. Copyright remains exclusive property of Photographer.

How COVID-19 has affected cancer treatment in Nigeria

Treating cancer is expensive and for many years even before COVID-19, cancer patients and their families in Nigeria were left to pay with their life savings or sell properties.

byNike Adebowale-TambeandEbuka Onyeji
February 4, 2021
Reading Time: 7 mins read
0

As Nigeria and the rest of the world grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, health experts and advocates say the virus has led to less attention being paid to other ailments such as cancer.

While cancer patients are disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 partly because they are significantly more likely to die from the disease once infected, the greater risk is the altering of treatment regimens and cutting of funds, health experts say.

Treating cancer is expensive and for many years even before COVID-19, cancer patients and their families in Nigeria were left to pay with their life savings or sell properties as government assistance was barely in existence.

Cancer patients often relied on foreign aid and raising funds through social media, a situation health experts blamed on the country’s fragmented health insurance system, which does not cover key cancer treatment regimen.

Already acutely underfunded, cancer treatment was further relegated once the pandemic broke.

Cancer trust fund

Hope rose for cancer patients at the 2019 National Health Dialogue when the health minister, Osagie Ehanire announced a plan to institute a cancer treatment fund to reduce the financial burden of treating the terminal disease.

The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, at a press briefing on the outbreak of Coronavirus in Nigeria
The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, at a press briefing on the outbreak of Coronavirus in Nigeria

Held in October 2019, the yearly dialogue was organised by PREMIUM TIMES, PTCIJ, dRPC-PACFaH@Scale, International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH), Project Pink Blue and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The minister made the announcement following a touching story of the painful battle against cancer shared by Serah Shimenenge Yugh, a breast cancer survivor.

Atiku-Okowa AD

National Health Dialogue
National Health Dialogue

“There will be a creation of a fund, either a cancer treatment fund or whatever we decide to call it. It is important and can be driven by investment or donation,” the minister said.

“It can be driven by any method that takes you beyond the point where health insurance cannot cover anymore in your treatment.”

The minister said the new fund will help reduce the cost of treatment and diagnosis, noting that the funding plan will draw support from the private sector.

But more than a year after the pronouncement, cancer communities in Nigeria say they are yet to start benefitting from the fund.

NAHCON State AD NAHCON Tour Operator AD NAHCON Cargo Operator AD

Kogi AD

TEXEM Advert

Repeated calls and text messages to the health ministry’s spokesperson to understand why the fund has not fully taken off were not responded to.

Meanwhile health experts and cancer patients say the funding plan was stalled by the shift in priority to COVID-19 and lack of political will.

‘Inaccessible trust fund’

Gloria orji, the president of Abuja breast cancer support group, who is part of the committee overseeing the setting up of the fund, said while N700 million has been approved, the fund remains inaccessible more than a year, a situation she described as “unfortunate”.

Dangote adbanner 728x90_2 (1)

“There was an approval of over N700 million but the unfortunate thing as we speak now is that cancer patients have not been able to access that fund.

“It is quite demoralising because just in our group, for the past one year, a lot of cancer patients have died. We have lost about seven members in our support group alone and we lose them majorly because there is no money,” she said.

“Some of them stopped their treatment because they needed to do radiotherapy but couldn’t do it. Some of them couldn’t even afford the drugs and yet the fund is lying there and nothing is being done.

“Though the committee was inaugurated, the fact that no cancer patients can access the fund yet means nothing has been done to me.

“When I receive appeals for assistance in our Whatsapp group, my mind goes to the trust fund. Only if the funds were accessible, these problems would have been solved,” said Ms Orji who is also the president of Network of persons impacted by cancer in Nigeria.

For Adamu Alhassan, a public health expert, the offtake of the fund with N700 million is significantly poor compared to the funding gap in cancer treatment in Nigeria.

He said the fund has not taken off due to lack of concrete planning by the government.

New cancer case in 2020
New cancer case in 2020

“You see the problem with us as a country is the fact that we say a lot of things and we don’t follow up. Sometimes, these statements are made without a very concrete plan of action already in place,” Mr Alhassan told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday.

“Look at the construction of the International Cancer Centre, you don’t hear much about it. What we are saying to the government is that whenever they want to make a statement, they should ensure that they have a clear road- map and clearly stated timelines. They should also ensure they have a period of execution and deliverables that can ensure proper scrutiny, monitoring and follow up.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN-mDBPtSwI&w=800&h=400]

‘Inaccessible cancer machines’

A year before the ministers’ announcement, the Nigerian government in 2018 launched the country’s $250 million National Cancer Control Plan for 2018-2022 with the goal of reducing the cancer prevalence and mortality rates.

To improve treatment, the plan aims to increase the “number of comprehensive cancer care centers in the country that can offer radiotherapy as part of treatment for cancer patients.”

But experts said this investment is pointless if poor cancer patients cannot afford to pay for the use of the machines.

Radiotherapy is one of the key routines in the painful fight against cancer.

A cancer patient often needs the treatment at one point or the other. Experts say it is often better not to start it than break the sessions.

Access to radiotherapy treatment has been the bane of cancer patients in Nigeria.

The National Hospital in Abuja received a new radiotherapy machine in 2019. It was donated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo).

National Hospital Abuja.
National Hospital Abuja.

With the addition, Nigeria could now boast of eight government-owned radiotherapy machines located in different hospitals across the country.

But many of the old machines have broken down and those functional are not functioning at full capacity.

The Abuja addition has, however, helped in treating only a few patients who can afford the high cost of radiotherapy.

Costly

Radiotherapy treatment costs N600,000 at the national hospital, according to Chinedu Aruah, the head of the Department Radiation and Clinical Oncology at the facility.

“We know it is difficult for a lot of people to afford cancer treatments, that’s why we advocate for NGOs and other well-meaning individuals to support cancer patients. Lots of individuals make donations to treat cancer patients free of charge. Some of these individuals also pay in money for research so it’s only in Nigeria people do not make such donations,” he said.

Speaking on the high cost of radiotherapy in a country where about 100 million citizens live on less than a dollar a day, Mr Aruah said: “These treatment machines run 24hrs without going off. The AC must be on for 24 hrs so the cost of maintenance is high. So the N600,000 is just marginal”.

He said Shell “also paid for us to be treating indigent patients which we have been doing. We have a list of the patients and we have been reporting back to Shell.”

World Statistics
World Statistics

He said the major reason why patients die from cancer most times is due to late case presentation.

“What the doctor can do at that stage is manage the case to ensure the conditions doesn’t get worse but the damage has already been done,” the official noted.

“When people report to the hospital early, the case can be well managed. People have been treated for the past 15 to 20 years and they are still alive. Such people come in here to advise our cancer patients, so early reporting is actually key to defeat the disease.

“But when people keep going from one prayer house to another, avoiding the reality and reporting to the hospital when the case has worsened, there is not much the oncologist can do.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opQwGupdCG0&w=800&h=300]

COVID-19 and Cancer

As COVID-19 spread in Nigeria, much focus and effort was channeled to the fight against the novel disease while funding for cancer treatment suffered the more.

The outbreak attracted donations from rich corporations and individuals with several funding commitments by the government amounting to billions of naira.

In just four months into the pandemic, the Nigerian government said it had already spent “N30.5 billion, representing 84 per cent of the N36.3 billon public funds and donations received to respond to COVID-19 between April 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020, leaving the balance of N5.9 billion.”

The Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, stated this in response to the Freedom of Information request dated August 10, 2020, and sent to him by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Connected Development (CODE).

More deadly

While COVID-19 is a global health threat and should be among top priorities, health experts believe a similar attention should be paid to cancer.

Even though COVID-19 is a highly infectious disease, cancer, a non-communicable but terminal disease, is far more deadly in Nigeria, statistics showed.

About 70,000 deaths are recorded from cancer annually in Nigeria — almost 45 times higher than the 1,613 fatalities recorded from COVID-19 in more than a year.

Cancer related deaths in 2020
Cancer related deaths in 2020

In 2020 alone, 78,899 cancer-related deaths were recorded in Nigeria, according to Globocan statistics. Women often bear the brunt — breast and cervical cancers are responsible for more deaths than any others in Nigeria.

While 34,200 men died from cancer in 2020, 44,699 women succumbed to the disease, according to Globocan data.

Estimates from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation suggest that the cancer death rate in Nigeria was 113.7 per 100,000 people in 2017.

Besides, experts believe the cancer figures are underreported because many patients cannot afford the costs and often abandon hospital tests and treatment, meaning they will not be captured in the data.

“This is the major reason why all stakeholders in the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS) are bringing in new energy to be able to reawaken the consciousness of Nigerians because sincerely speaking the level of awareness is low,” Mr Alhassan said.

“We are advocating for more inclusiveness whenever it comes to funding and awareness creation. Cancer is a preventable disease. There is a saying that preventive medicine is better than curative medicine and this is the major reason why awareness should be the key priority.”

Surviving cancer amid COVID-19

Meanwhile, Ms Orji, the president of Abuja breast cancer support group, said the COVID-19 experience has not fared well for the 100 members in her group.

“We have not been having physical meetings for the past one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were told not to come together because we are at higher risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus since our immune system has been compromised. The pandemic has actually dealt with us,” she said.

“The pandemic came with a lot of problems on its own and cancer is also a problem on its own, so the problem became double.

“A lot of our members could no longer afford treatment as some donor aids for treatment stopped due to the economic impact of the pandemic.

“Some patients also became scared of contracting the virus and decided not to visit the hospital at all and their cancer disease progressed unlike when they were always accessing treatment,” she explained.

Ms Orji, a breast cancer survivor, said at least seven of their members have died amid the pandemic and many more are in critical conditions.

She said they have held on by encouraging each other to stay strong through their online discussion on Whatsapp and other social media platforms.

World Cancer Day

World Cancer Day is celebrated every year on February 4.

It is a global uniting initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

Cancer, the second leading cause of death globally, is the uncontrolled growth of a group of cells in the body. It can occur at any age and if not detected at the right time and is not treated, it can increase the risk of death.

The theme for World Cancer Day 2021 is ‘I Am and I Will’.

With disruptions in services caused by COVID-19, cancer advocates believe there is an urgent need to consider cancer treatment as an emergency.

“If we have to put both diseases side by side, the mortality rate of cancer is far higher than that of COVID-19. Nobody is joking about COVID-19; we know what is happening around the world but we are saying that cancer shouldn’t be neglected in the course of trying to stem the effects of the pandemic.

“The key message I have for World Cancer Day is that we should work the talk. We should be more proactive,” Ms Orji said.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Print



Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility

Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.

For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.

By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.

Donate



TEXT AD: Call Willie - +2348098788999






PT Mag Campaign AD

Previous Post

Governors must defend citizens’ rights to live anywhere in Nigeria – El-Rufai

Next Post

Robbers ‘snatch N20 million’ belonging to Ekiti governor’s office

Nike Adebowale-Tambe

Nike Adebowale-Tambe

Nike Adebowale covers the health beat.  She holds a degree from Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti. Twitter: @nikeadebowale1 

Ebuka Onyeji

Ebuka Onyeji

Ebuka Onyeji is a health reporter at PREMIUM TIMES. He also has a penchant for music and art. Ebuka holds a degree in Mass communication from Anambra State University.

More News

APC and PDP

EXCLUSIVE: Three House of Representatives members from Katsina ditch APC, join PDP

January 30, 2023
_Uyo_Urban_Ward_2,_crowd_outside_a_classroom_at_Government_School,_Ikot_Ntuen_Oku

SPECIAL REPORT: Few weeks to elections, Nigerians go through harrowing experiences to collect PVCs

January 30, 2023
Olayinka T.Hannah

#Under30EntrepreneursInNigeria: – How I became a LinkedIn Tutor – Olayinka T.Hannah

January 30, 2023
A cartoon used to illustrate the editorial on fuelling public service corruption with unpaid retirees benefits

EDITORIAL: Fuelling public service corruption with unpaid retirees benefits

January 30, 2023
APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigeria's president Muhammadu Buhari. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bashir Ahmad]

PT State of the Race: Enemy or Friend: Tinubu’s topsy-turvy relationship with Buhari

January 29, 2023
Godwin Emefiele, governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

UPDATED: CBN extends deadline for use of old naira notes

January 29, 2023
Leave Comment

Our Digital Network

  • PT Hausa
  • Election Centre
  • Human Trafficking Investigation
  • Centre for Investigative Journalism
  • National Conference
  • Press Attack Tracker
  • PT Academy
  • Dubawa
  • LeaksNG
  • Campus Reporter

Resources

  • Oil & Gas Facts
  • List of Universities in Nigeria
  • LIST: Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria
  • NYSC Orientation Camps in Nigeria
  • Nigeria’s Federal/States’ Budgets since 2005
  • Malabu Scandal Thread
  • World Cup 2018
  • Panama Papers Game
  • Our Digital Network
  • About Us
  • Resources
  • Projects
  • Data & Infographics
  • DONATE

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria

No Result
View All Result
  • Digital Store
  • Home
  • News
    • Headline Stories
    • Top News
    • More News
    • Foreign
  • Investigations
  • Gender
  • Business
    • News Reports
    • Financial Inclusion
    • Analysis and Data
    • Business Specials
    • Opinion
    • Oil/Gas Reports
      • FAAC Reports
      • Revenue
  • Health
    • COVID-19
    • News Reports
    • Investigations
    • Data and Infographics
    • Health Specials
    • Features
    • Events
    • Primary Health Tracker
  • Agriculture
    • News Report
    • Research & Innovation
    • Data & Infographics
    • Special Reports/Investigations
    • Investigations
    • Interviews
    • Multimedia
  • Arts/Life
    • Arts/Books
    • Kannywood
    • Lifestyle
    • Music
    • Nollywood
    • Travel
  • Sports
    • Football
    • More Sports News
    • Sports Features
  • #EndSARS Dashboard
  • AUN-PT Data Hub
  • Projects
    • Panama Papers
    • Paradise Papers
    • Parliament Watch
    • AGAHRIN
  • Opinion
  • PT Hausa
  • The Membership Club
  • DONATE
  • About Us
  • Advert Rates
  • Dubawa NG
  • Careers
  • Contact Us

All content is Copyrighted © 2022 The Premium Times, Nigeria