Go After Care Initiative, an NGO, has urged governments at all levels to strengthen support for the palliative care system to help reduce preventable deaths among cancer patients.
The Coordinator of the organization, Mrs Ufeoma Nehemiah, made the appeal on Wednesday during a sensitization programme on palliative care at the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat in Lagos.
She explained that palliative care for cancer patients is a specialized medical service focused on improving quality of life by managing symptoms such as pain, stress and other side effects of the illness and its treatment.
“This is an NGO that is not only advocating for palliative care but also aims to take it to the grassroots,” she said.
Nehemiah said her passion for palliative care grew after a visit to Uganda, where the service is community-based.
“I realized that in Uganda, palliative care is community-based, but we don’t have that here in Nigeria.
We need to take it to the community to provide care for people who need it in the comfort of their homes,” she added.
According to her, palliative care can be provided at any stage of cancer to address the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
She said the advocacy seeks to empower community members with knowledge about palliative care—how to support patients, help them cope with their illness and make informed decisions about treatment.
Nehemiah thanked the Lagos State Government for embracing the initiative and urged it to invest in training caregivers so they can provide adequate support for their loved ones, noting that the NGO alone cannot carry the burden.
She added that the sensitization campaign would be taken to all local governments and local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state to widen awareness on the importance of palliative care.
“We are happy that the people of Ikorodu are embracing this, especially with recent research showing that the area has one of the highest incidences of cancer.
“The people are willing to accept this initiative and fight the disease. They are ready to support those in need within their communities.
“We will continue to move across the various LCDAs to intensify sensitization and deepen awareness on palliative care,” she said.
