Cancer is becoming a major health concern in Nigeria, with the World Health Organization noting that it is a leading cause of death globally. According to the WHO, investing just $3 per person annually could save millions of lives and generate significant economic returns.
Dr. Nwamaka Lasebikan, former Director of Research and Innovation at the Nigerian Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, says the situation for cancer patients in Nigeria is dire. “To be honest, the fate of an average Nigerian living with cancer right now is really not too good,” she said in an interview.
One of the main challenges is accessing funds for treatment. Dr. Lasebikan noted that the operationalization of the Cancer Health Fund has been disrupted, impacting the ability to access funds for the top three cancers: cervical, prostate, and breast. This has resulted in a huge financial burden for patients, who often have to pay out-of-pocket for treatment.
Progress in Radiotherapy and Diagnostics
Despite the challenges, there has been some progress in terms of radiotherapy machines. Two months ago, the minister commissioned three additional linear accelerators in diverse regions, bringing the total number of machines to 16. However, Dr. Lasebikan notes that this is still not enough to meet the needs of cancer patients in Nigeria.
Diagnostics also remain a critical bottleneck. Dr. Lasebikan explained that survivors have complained about the lack of quality assurance, with tests done in one facility not being accepted in another. CT scans are readily available, but affordability is a major issue. MRIs are not as widely available, and there is only one functional PET scan in Nigeria.
Women often have to travel many miles at great cost to access diagnostic facilities, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.
Financing cancer treatment is another major challenge. Dr. There is also a Catastrophic Health Fund set aside to cover chronic diseases like kidney disease and cancer. We are expecting a rollout in the not too distant future so patients with cancer can begin to benefit.
Dr. Lasebikan is concerned about the dwindling workforce in the oncology space, with not enough doctors and other healthcare professionals to deliver safe and effective care.
Despite these challenges, Dr. Lasebikan is optimistic about the growing activism of cancer survivors, who are demanding a seat at the table and pushing for their lived experiences to be heard. She believes that involving survivors in policy, clinical, and community decisions can help tailor limited resources for the best gains.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with its cancer crisis, it is clear that there is still much work to be done. With the World Health Organization’s investment case highlighting the need for increased investment in cancer care, Nigeria must find a way to address its diagnostic and treatment challenges, as well as its workforce shortages, in order to improve outcomes for cancer patients.
According to Dr. Lasebikan, cancer survivors are becoming more vocal, and their advocacy is driving change. The WHO’s call for member states to conform to cervical cancer elimination plans has also led to increased advocacy in Nigeria, with the government looking to adopt the WHO plan for breast cancer elimination.
About four years ago, the ‘sin tax’ was proposed to the National Assembly to increase taxes on sugary beverages and tobacco, but it did not scale because of pushback from those industries. Dr. Lasebikan notes that other countries, such as Thailand, have had success with similar models.
Dr. Lasebikan’s message to Nigerians just beginning their cancer journey is one of caution but also encouragement. “Cancer is not a death sentence,” she said. “We have people who have lived 15 years or more who can speak to that.” She advises patients to stick with evidence-based treatments and keep open communication with doctors, as some complementary medicines can be counterproductive.
Workforce and Funding Challenges
The dwindling workforce in the oncology space is a major concern. Dr. Lasebikan noted that Nigeria will not be close to meeting the number of oncologists needed in the next 20 to 30 years. This shortage of healthcare professionals will exacerbate the existing challenges in cancer care.
