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.
The appeal came during a virtual meeting on Sunday marking the sixth edition of the “Dear Doctor” series, an annual gathering of health experts, advocates, and partners to boost childhood cancer awareness nationwide.
The event, organized by Okapi Children Cancer Foundation, provided a platform for in-depth discussions on childhood cancer, its burden, gaps in care delivery, and strategies to improve outcomes.
Dr. John Balogun, pediatric oncologist at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, said survival rates exceed 80% in high-income countries, but fewer than two in 10 children survive in low-income settings.
“Where a child is born should not determine whether they survive cancer. It should not be a death sentence,” he said, 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. Even when families identified appropriate facilities, transportation costs and out-of-pocket payments often prevented timely access, especially among rural dwellers facing multiple economic and geographic challenges.
He highlighted Nigeria’s severe shortage of specialists, with only about eight trained pediatric oncologists serving a population exceeding 200 million, limiting access to quality cancer care.
“No matter how effective chemotherapy is, if a child cannot get to the hospital, they cannot benefit from it. Even when they arrive, there is a shortage of specialists,” he said.
Balogun noted that up to 80% of rural families first consult traditional or religious healers, underscoring the need to engage them as partners in early detection and referral systems.
“We must meet patients where they first seek help and transform traditional and religious healers into first responders rather than competitors,” he said, calling for inclusive healthcare approaches nationwide.
He urged alignment with the World Health Organization’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, which targets 60% survival by 2030, warning progress would stall if rural populations remained underserved.
Balogun advocated 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.
He also called for integrating childhood cancer care into the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to reduce catastrophic spending, noting many families spend more than 40% of their income on treatment.
Additional recommendations included transport and nutrition support for patients, clear referral pathways, and real-time tracking systems to prevent patient loss within the healthcare 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 urged a unified approach to ensure “the right treatment for the right child at the right time, regardless of location,” to significantly improve survival outcomes.
“If we do nothing, we risk losing all affected children. But if we act collectively, we can save lives, change outcomes, and ensure no child dies due to inability to pay,” he said.
Prof. Janet Poole, guest speaker and pediatric oncologist at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, South Africa, explained that childhood cancers affect individuals from infancy to 19 years. Common types include leukemia, lymphomas, brain tumors, and retinoblastoma, which can be treated and cured if detected early.
She warned that cancer symptoms may resemble common illnesses and urged immediate checks for persistent fever, unexplained lumps, swelling, fatigue, or weight loss.
Dr. Margaret Olokpo, clinical psychologist, emphasized the importance of emotional wellbeing support for parents during their child’s treatment.
Asmau Smaila, Associate Director at IHS Nigeria Ltd, stressed 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, said the event focused on public education, early diagnosis, advocacy, and support for affected families. She highlighted the importance of access to care and addressing inequities in rural communities.
More than 130 participants attended, including healthcare professionals, cancer survivors, patient advocates, media representatives, and government officials, reflecting broad commitment to addressing childhood cancer challenges in Nigeria.
