A Kaduna-based non-governmental organisation, Hassy’s Haven Foundation, has called for urgent and coordinated efforts to tackle the rising burden of cancer among indigent women in Nigeria, warning that poverty, stigma and limited access to healthcare are fuelling avoidable deaths nationwide.
The appeal was made on Wednesday to mark World Cancer Day, observed globally every February 4 to promote awareness and collective action against cancer.
The Foundation lamented that although treatment options are available, many Nigerian women continue to seek medical help only at advanced stages of the disease due to poor access to early screening, inadequate public awareness and the high cost of treatment.
It noted that cancer has evolved from a distant health issue into a daily crisis that is devastating families, draining household resources and claiming the lives of women in their prime years.
Speaking on the significance of the day, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hassy’s Haven Foundation, Hussaina Yakubu, described cancer as more than a medical problem, calling it a matter of social justice.
“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,” Yakubu said.
She added that many patients face the disease alone, stressing that emotional and community support are just as vital as medical treatment.
Yakubu explained that the Foundation was founded in honour of her late twin sister, Hassana ‘Hassylove’ Yakubu, who battled cancer for eight years before passing away.
“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,” she said.
She said the Foundation focuses on emotional support, advocacy, public sensitisation and financial assistance for indigent female cancer patients, as well as widows and orphans affected by the disease.
The organisation urged governments at all levels to prioritise cancer prevention through investments in affordable and accessible screening programmes, alongside stronger public health education.
It also called on the private sector, health institutions and development partners to subsidise treatment costs and expand cancer care services beyond major cities to rural and underserved communities.
Yakubu noted that decentralising oncology services would help reduce late diagnoses and significantly improve survival rates for women without access to specialised healthcare.
She further appealed to the public to help end the stigma and silence surrounding cancer, warning that fear and misinformation often prevent women from seeking timely medical attention.
“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,” she said.
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