In furtherance of raising awareness about cancer and making it a global health priority, an International Non-Governmental Organization, the Girl Effect has rolled out the “Accelerate Access to Health Services for Adolescent Girls and Young women in Nigeria while Tackling Gender norms’ project with support from GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
This is according to the Program Manager with Girl Effect Nigeria, Mrs Chinelo Okonkwo during a Media Engagement to commemorate the 2025 World Cancer Day in Abuja.
“The project aims to increase demand and acceptance of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescent girls and young women in Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Delta and Kaduna states,” Chinelo Okonkwo stated.
Representing the Programs Lead, Mrs Okonkwo highlighted the critical role of the Media in awareness creation about cervical cancer which is caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
She described the HPV as a significant public health issue, and increasing vaccination rates is crucial for preventing HPV-related cancers and diseases.
“Using the power of media, we are supporting the state government in the 5 states in enhancing the reach and impact of the HPV vaccination program through targeted approaches, our interventions are targeted at young girls, parents and influencers at different levels.”
Mrs Okonkwo further spoke glowingly about the collaboration with the Nigerian Cancer Society this year on this World Cancer Day to create more awareness and fight to ensure a healthier reproductive life for adolescent girls and young women.
Speaking earlier, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Cancer Society, Abidemi Omonisi urged the Nigerian government to ramp up efforts to quell the unceremonious migration of skilled Oncology Workforce for greener pasture otherwise known as the Japa Syndrome.
Omonisi described the ugly development as one of the leading factors militating against cancer treatment in the country.
“The NCS expresses with great worry that Nigeria is already expressing a catastrophic Human Resource for Health (HRH) crises due to the current rate of migration of health workers to overseas, ‘Jappa syndrome’.
“Furthermore, we observe that, the current brain drain was attributed but not limited to poor remuneration, poor infrastructure, insecurity, low standard of living and inadequate funding for the healthcare system. This has led to migration of Radiation & Clinical Oncologists, Pathologists, Oncology Nursing and other categories of health workers.”
Worried by the prevalence of Cancer and the associated deaths in the country, Omonisi called on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to appropriate additional funds to close a ₦97.2 billion funding gap in the National Oncology Initiative.
He attributed the alarming death rate to inability of most patients in Nigeria, that largely rely on out-of- pocket expenses for the treatment.
“Although, we are very grateful to the Federal Government of Nigeria, and we sincerely appreciate the role played by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in establishing the National Cancer Health Fund ( NCHF).
“However, our society is sadden to observe that only N150,000,000.00 under the budget line “ Counterpart Funding for Cancer Health Fund”( budget code ERGP25227378) and N50,000.000 under the budget line “ Counterpart Funding for Childhood Cancer Health Funds in Nigeria’’ (budget code ERGP25227404).”
The NCS urged the National Assembly to appropriate N25 billion for the transition of the National Cancer Health to a Catastrophic Health Insurance Fund.
Furthermore, NCS implored the National Assembly and the Federal Government to appropriate additional funds to close 97.2 billion Naira funding gag in the National Oncology Initiative.
