Rakiya A. Muhammad
45-year-old Ali Sani hears cancer treatment, and his mind goes to the death of his 4year old son Ahmad, who had leukaemia, one of the most common types of cancer among children in Nigeria.
Other common types of childhood cancer include brain cancer, Wilms tumour, lymphomas and neuroblastoma.
“Ahmad was losing weight and having recurring fever. We thought it was Malaria and continued to treat him at home,” said Ali, a petty trader in Kano, Northwest Nigeria.
“When the situation worsened, we took him to the hospital where they told us it was cancer and that he would be on treatment. It was so devastating; how could I afford cancer treatment when I could barely afford the transport cost to the hospital?”
Ali took his son home, hoping to search for funds for the treatment. “We resigned to fate as I never got money for the therapy. Unfortunately, we lost Ahmad to the disease.”
Many suffer and die because of a lack of resources and access to affordable and quality cancer services. According to the World Health Organisation WHO, approximately 400,000 children and adolescents of 0-19 years old develop cancer each year.
“In high-income countries where comprehensive services are generally accessible, more than 80 per cent of children with cancer are cured in low- and- medium-income countries, less than 30 per cent are cured,” it adds.
“Avoidable deaths from childhood cancer in low -and -medium-income countries result from lack of diagnosis, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, obstacles to accessing care, abandonment of treatment, death from toxicity and relapse.”
The 2022 International Childhood Cancer Day commemorated on February 15 presented an opportunity to spotlight this health concern in Nigeria.
“There are over 400,000 children affected by childhood cancer worldwide. However, diagnoses are often late, referral slow and human capacity limited in LMICs compared to high-income countries,” Dr Zainab Shinkafi -Bagudu, a paediatric consultant in Nigeria and a Board member, Union for International Cancer Control.
“A huge disparity exists in Childhood Cancer outcomes between high-and low-income countries. The gap cuts across awareness, diagnosis, healthcare capacity, access to treatment and research.”
Buttressing this point, Dr Foluke Sarimiye, Lecturer/Consultant Radiation and Clinical Oncologist/Psycho Oncologist University of Ibadan /University College Hospital, adds: “This disparity is as a result of several factors such as low community awareness, cultural belief, poor knowledge about early basic childhood cancer signs and symptoms, financial constraints, lack of appropriate diagnostic tools and access to specialist care, especially in rural settings.”
Dr Femi Adefehinti Consultant Paediatrician Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAUTH, Osun State, echoes concern of many over the high cost of cancer treatment.
“Most childhood cancers are curable, but it takes a lot of commitment, and it drains money mainly because the drugs we use are costly,” he notes.
“We all know that majority of the population in Nigeria living below the poverty line, so sourcing for money to take care of cancer patients is quite a big burden on the part of the parents.”
CLOSING THE CARE GAP
We can close the care gap by creating a more equitable global health system, says Dr Zainab, founder /CEO of Medicaid Cancer Foundation.
The wife of Kebbi State Governor in Northwest Nigeria and Chairperson, First Lady Against Cancer (PLAC), stresses the need to prioritise childhood cancer and ensure their early diagnoses.
She explains that PLAC’s main aim is to advocate for better policies and provide support. They also advocate for cancer care in the National Health Insurance Scheme through the platform.
Similarly, Dr Sarimiye, the Executive Director of Patela Care Foundation, identifies the need for greater awareness, advocacy, and psychosocial support for the children battling cancer and their family caregivers.
She also points out that childhood cancer deserves the same attention and commitment that adult cancers receive.
“Access to the best possible care for children battling cancer is not a privilege, but a human right all children should enjoy,” she asserts
For Adedayo Joseph, founder of The Dorcas Cancer Foundation (TDCF), which funded diagnosis for over 60 children in six years, “Our collaborative participation and support are key to increasing childhood cancer survival in Nigeria.”
According to her, TDCF envisions the day all children with cancer in Nigeria would benefit from the best possible treatment, care and support regardless of their background, race and age, and status.
Childhood survivor caregivers, Peace and Abdul, harp on the need to boost capacity to save lives and reduce suffering for children with cancer in Nigeria.
However, many have hailed the planned Global Platform for Access to Childhood cancer Medicines by WHO and St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, a global leader in researching and treating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
The platform will provide an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines to low- and middle-income countries and dramatically increase access to childhood cancer medicines across the globe.
St Jude is investing $200 to provide LMICs with safe and effective medicine access. They expect to provide access to treatment for approximately 120,000 children in 50 countries between 2022 and 2027.
