A cancer organisation, Project PINK BLUE – Health & Psychological Trust Centre, has urged the Federal Government to increase the number of brachytherapy treatments and improve access to cervical cancer treatment.
Speaking at a media briefing to mark the end of a two-day training programme for cancer survivors under the “Count Me In: Pain and Palliative Project,” organised by Project PINK BLUE in collaboration with the Dicey Scroggins Patient Advocacy Fellowship, Executive Director of Project PINK BLUE, Runcie Chidebe, lamented that while progress had been made in promoting HPV vaccination in Nigeria, significant gaps remained in access to treatment for women already diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Chidebe, who was represented by the Health and Communication Associate for PPB, Faridah Banwo, said the women often feel abandoned in policy discussions, with few platforms focusing on their treatment needs, survival, and quality of life.
He pointed out that the WHO’s global strategy for cervical cancer elimination (90:70:90 target) mandates that countries like Nigeria ensure 90 per cent of diagnosed women receive timely and effective treatment, yet Nigeria is falling short.
He said: “In 2022, an estimated 13,676 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer; sadly, 7,093 of these women died. Simply over 51 per cent of the women diagnosed with cervical cancer died. Similarly, 2,906 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022, and 1,824 died, which is over 62per cent.”
“At Project PINK BLUE, we recognise that empowering cancer survivors themselves to become advocates is a powerful tool to transform the cancer care experience in Nigeria. Research consistently shows that patients with lived experience, when equipped with the right knowledge and skills, become impactful voices for change in health systems and communities.”
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami, explained that the fellowship programme is a capacity-building programme for patients and gynaecological cancer survivors.
The DG, who was represented by Dr Segun Akani, said: “We have our multidisciplinary team plan for the management of cancer patients in cancer centres of excellence.”
President of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Nigeria (HPCAN), Prof. Tonia Onyeka, highlighted the urgent need to integrate palliative care into the country’s cancer care system.
A cancer survivor on active treatment, Mercy Sopuruchi, lamented that the government is giving more focus on the prevention of cervical cancer and less on the treatment of those already with the disease. She appealed to the government to increase the number of brachytherapy in Nigeria and improve access to cervical cancer treatment.
Another cervical cancer survivor, Ms Ivy Umeh, stated that patients are often forced to sell their properties, take loans, or seek help via social media to afford treatment.
“Many endure unbearable, untreated pain, with some experiencing suicidal thoughts due to the physical and emotional burden.”
The Dicey Scroggins Patient Advocacy Fellowship is a core component of the Count Me In: Pain and Palliative Project, supported by the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) under the Dicey Scroggins Fund for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
The project aims to promote equity and access to pain management and palliative care for marginalised women living with gynecologic cancers in Nigeria.
The training programme seeks to address that gap by equipping cancer survivors with skills to advocate for equitable and affordable treatment and raise awareness about the realities of cancer care in Nigeria.
