The Lagos Aviators Lions Club has donated medical supplies and financial assistance to children battling cancer at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), club President Theresa Emordi announced on Tuesday.
The gesture was revealed during the club’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Campaign at LASUTH, themed “Childhood Cancer is Real: Early Detection Is the Key.” The initiative aimed to support affected children and their families at the hospital’s Cancer Centre.
Emordi explained that the club consulted unit heads beforehand to identify children in urgent need of surgical intervention. As a result, the club funded treatment for three children and provided essential medical supplies to enhance patient care at the centre.
She emphasized that childhood cancer is one of the eight global causes championed by Lions Clubs International. Through such efforts, the club advances treatment access, strengthens healthcare systems, and delivers lasting positive impact for children in need.
Club Project Director Christianah Offe underscored the vital role of awareness, noting that many Nigerians remain unaware of childhood cancer and its early warning signs.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 400,000 children and adolescents aged 0–19 develop cancer each year worldwide. The most common types include leukaemias, brain tumours, lymphomas, and solid tumours such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumour.
Cancer ranks as a leading cause of death among children and adolescents, with survival rates varying dramatically by income level: over 80 per cent in high-income countries, but less than 30 per cent in low- and middle-income nations like Nigeria.
While childhood cancer cannot typically be prevented or detected through routine screening, most forms respond well to timely medical interventions—including generic medicines, surgery, radiotherapy, and other therapies. Early diagnosis and prompt access to quality care remain crucial for improving outcomes.
The donation and campaign by the Lagos Aviators Lions Club highlight ongoing community-driven efforts to bridge gaps in childhood cancer care, raise public consciousness, and offer hope to families facing this challenge in Lagos and beyond.
