Abuja: Stakeholders in the health sector have intensified calls for improved access to healthcare services in rural communities, highlighting disparities in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival rates across Nigeria. They made the call on Sunday at a virtual meeting marking the sixth edition of the ‘Dear Doctor’ series, an annual gathering of health experts, advocates, and partners to boost childhood cancer awareness nationwide.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event was organised by Okapi Children Cancer Foundation to provide a platform for in-depth discussions on childhood cancer, its burden, gaps in care delivery, and strategies to improve outcomes. Dr. John Balogun, a pediatric oncologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, highlighted the stark contrast in survival rates, noting that survival exceeded 80 percent in high-income countries, whereas fewer than two in ten survive in low-income settings. He stressed that a child’s birthplace should not determine their cancer survival, emphasizing the urgent need for equitable healthcare access.
Balogun identified delays in seeking, reaching, and receiving care as critical barriers, citing cultural beliefs, poor awareness, long travel distances, and financial constraints as key factors affecting patients. He pointed out that even when families identified appropriate facilities, transportation costs and out-of-pocket payments often prevented timely access to treatment, especially among rural dwellers facing multiple economic and geographic challenges.
The pediatric oncologist revealed a severe shortage of specialists, with Nigeria having only about eight trained pediatric oncologists for a population exceeding 200 million, limiting access to quality cancer care services. He emphasized that effective chemotherapy is futile if a child cannot access the hospital, further exacerbated by the shortage of specialists. Balogun advocated for engaging traditional and religious healers as partners in early detection and referral systems, as up to 80 percent of rural families first consulted them.
He urged alignment with the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, targeting a 60 percent survival rate by 2030, warning that progress would stall if rural populations remained underserved. Balogun called for adopting a hub-and-spoke model linking primary healthcare centers and rural hospitals with tertiary facilities like UATH to improve early detection, referral systems, and treatment outcomes nationwide.
Integration of childhood cancer care into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) was recommended by Balogun to reduce catastrophic spending, as many families spend more than 40 percent of their income on treatment. He highlighted the importance of transport and nutrition support for patients, the establishment of clear referral pathways, and real-time tracking systems to prevent loss of patients within the healthcare delivery system.
Balogun emphasized community engagement, destigmatization of childhood cancer, and the use of community navigators to support patients through care, urging stakeholders to ensure equitable and accessible treatment services nationwide. He called for a unified approach to provide the “right treatment for the right child at the right time, regardless of location,” to significantly improve survival outcomes.
Prof. Janet Poole, guest speaker and pediatric oncologist, emphasized that childhood cancers affect individuals from infancy to 19 years, explaining key issues during her presentation titled ‘Childhood Cancer Simplified.’ She noted that leukemia, lymphomas, brain tumors, and retinoblastoma are common childhood cancers, treatable and curable if detected early and appropriate medical interventions accessed promptly.
Dr. Margaret Olokpo, a clinical psychologist, addressed the importance of mental health during cancer treatment, urging parents not to overexert themselves while caring for children, stressing the importance of emotional wellbeing support. Asmau Smaila, Associate Director at IHS Nigeria Ltd, emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to address systemic challenges and strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.
Dr. Kemi Adekanye, founder of Okapi Children Cancer Foundation, highlighted the event’s focus on public education, early diagnosis, advocacy, and support for families affected by childhood cancer nationwide. She stressed the importance of access to care and addressing inequities in rural communities, emphasizing the need for inclusive healthcare interventions and sustained policy attention. The event saw participation from over 130 individuals, including healthcare professionals, cancer survivors, patient advocates, media representatives, and government officials, reflecting broad commitment to addressing childhood cancer challenges in Nigeria.