NGO Committed to Bridging Access to Cancer Treatment Gap - CEO

 

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The Cancer Consciousness Initiative (CCI) has restated its commitment to bridging the gap between community and specialist cancer care in the North East. 

Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Hannatu Ayuba, made this known on Thursday at the Taraba State Pinktober 2026 Town Hall Meeting, themed, "No One Should Face Cancer Alone" in Jalingo.

Dr. Ayuba, who is also Programme Lead of the TeleOncology Hub and its Community Patient Navigation Programme, said the meeting was aimed at raising awareness on access to cancer care, noting that cancer is beyond a medical condition and requires collective responsibility.

She said many people in Northeast Nigeria still face cancer with fear, misinformation, late presentation, financial hardship and limited access to specialists, stressing that behind every diagnosis is a person and family deserving compassion and hope.

She explained that effective cancer control cannot rest on hospitals alone but requires active participation of government, traditional institutions, religious leaders, private sector, development partners and the media to promote early presentation, screening and to challenge misconceptions.

According to her, "that is why CCI through its TeleOncology Hub Community Patient Navigation Programme is committed to ensuring patients are not abandoned between community and hospital through awareness, patient navigation, referral coordination, virtual consultations and multidisciplinary reviews.

"We believe where a person lives or their financial circumstances should not determine whether they receive appropriate cancer care. Our message is simple and powerful: No one should face cancer alone," Ayuba said.

Mallam Bashir Hammanjoda, representative of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), said the commission is keen on supporting initiatives targeted at cancer prevention and treatment and will continue to collaborate with partners to stem cancer in the sub-region.

Dr. Joel Rimamde, Chief Executive Officer of Global Medical Diagnostic Centre, commended CCI for the sensitisation and urged people to seek early diagnosis before the disease spreads.

Mrs. Rahila Adamu, a breast cancer survivor, warned against relying on native medicine, insisting that cancer is not a death sentence. Said she survived after treatment at FMC Gombe and the National Hospital Abuja, adding.

"When you are on chemotherapy and you take a good diet, you can survive it."