Medical experts and the Okapi Children Cancer Foundation have called for increased government funding and expanded health insurance coverage to improve access to treatment and care for children battling cancer in Nigeria.

The stakeholders made the call during an outreach programme organised for children receiving cancer treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, and the National Hospital, Abuja.

The event was organised by the Okapi Children Cancer Foundation as part of activities marking the 2026 Children’s Day celebration on Friday in Abuja.

Kefas Jibir-Gurama, head of the paediatrics department at FMC Abuja, said childhood cancer remained a major burden for affected children and their families because of the physical, emotional, and financial demands of treatment.

According to him, repeated hospital visits, surgeries, medical procedures, and prolonged treatment often leave children traumatised, while parents struggle with fear, anxiety, and financial hardship.

“Children living with cancer go through very difficult experiences. For many of them, being constantly in hospitals and undergoing various procedures can be traumatic.

“Parents also face enormous emotional and financial pressures in caring for their children,” he said.

Mr Jibir-Gurama said that initiatives such as Children’s Day celebrations helped improve the morale of young patients by making them feel loved, included, and supported in spite of their health conditions.

He, however, identified inadequate funding and limited health insurance coverage as major barriers to effective childhood cancer treatment in Nigeria.

“The government needs to increase budgetary allocation for cancer management. Many cancer medications and treatments are not adequately covered by health insurance.

“If insurance coverage is expanded to include cancer medications, radiotherapy and other therapies, it will significantly ease the burden on affected families,” he said.

The paediatrician also identified late presentation of cases as one of the biggest challenges affecting successful treatment outcomes.

According to him, parents should seek immediate medical attention whenever they notice unusual symptoms or growths in their children because early diagnosis significantly improves survival chances.

“The success of cancer treatment depends largely on the stage at which it is diagnosed. Early presentation leads to better outcomes, while advanced cases are often more difficult to manage,” he said.

Mr Jibir-Gurama cautioned against superstition, denial, and reliance on alternative remedies that often delayed access to proper medical treatment.

He added that psychological support was equally important, as many parents suffered emotional distress, economic setbacks, and job losses while caring for children with cancer.

He also noted that childhood cancer cases appeared to be increasing due to improved awareness and greater access to diagnosis.

Also speaking, Dr Oyesakin Wunmi, Chief Consultant Paediatrician, urged the government to provide Positron Emission Tomography scan machines in hospitals across the country.

“We have special investigations like a PET scan, for instance, which we actually use to assess our patients to be sure that they are cancer-free.

“This equipment is the only one available in the whole country as I speak, and that is in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital,” she said.

Mrs Wunmi added that making chemotherapy drugs readily available and heavily subsidised would further reduce the burden on affected families.

Meanwhile, the event coordinator of OkapiCCF, Ms Chioma Ikechukwu, stressed the need for increased awareness, policy reforms, and dedicated funding for childhood cancer care.

She said the foundation currently supports children receiving treatment at the National Hospital Abuja, FMC Jabi, and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada.

According to her, the foundation goes beyond funding treatment by organising activities during Children’s Day, Christmas, and International Childhood Cancer Day to ensure children do not feel isolated.

“We want these children to feel loved and know they still have a lot to live for. Childhood cancer is not a death sentence, especially when detected early,” she said.

Ms Ikechukwu also called for policies specifically addressing childhood cancer and its inclusion in the national health insurance scheme.

According to her, many families abandon treatment because of the high cost of care and the economic burden associated with cancer management.

“Cancer does not respect financial status. Some parents struggle to feed their families and at the same time pay for treatment.

“Government funding for childhood cancer treatment will help reduce treatment abandonment and improve outcomes for affected children,” she said.

She advised parents not to ignore unusual symptoms in their children and urged families currently undergoing treatment not to lose hope.

“We have seen children survive even advanced stages of cancer. Parents should not drop out of treatment and should seek help whenever they need financial or psychological support,” she added.

Also speaking, Adebayo Glory, a parent, decried the high cost of treatment and limited access to cancer care for children in Nigeria.

She appealed to the government and philanthropists to implement policies that would ensure cancer treatment became more accessible and covered under the health insurance scheme.

Another parent, Mrs Sadiya Usman, whose 14-month-old daughter is battling cancer, appealed for greater government support for rural families undergoing treatment.

The stakeholders agreed that increased investment in childhood cancer care, stronger awareness campaigns, and improved insurance coverage would help reduce preventable deaths and improve the quality of life for affected children and families.

(NAN)