A six-year-old cancer warrior, Lois Adebayo and her mother, Gloria Adebayo, have appealed to the Federal Government to make childhood cancer treatment free to ease treatment burden.

They made the call at an advocacy outreach at Church of Christ Kado, supported by the Akanimo Cancer Foundation to mark the International Childhood Cancer Day on Sunday in Abuja.

Lois, who is still undergoing treatment, said the support would help children survive.

She said, “My name is Lois Adebayo. I am 6 years old. I am a cancer survivor and I feel much better.

“I want to tell President Bola Tinubu to give support to everyone that has cancer so that they can be fine and be well in Jesus’ name. President Tinubu, please make cancer treatment free for children.”

Her mother, Mrs Gloria Adebayo, described the financial and emotional tolls of cancer treatment, stressing that many families were struggling to afford expensive drugs and therapies.

“It has not been easy because cancer treatment is not a child’s play.It is a devourer. It sucks everything from the parents.

“We have been going around looking for how to reach out to government to help us with our children.

“However, it is not forthcoming. In fact, you don’t even have access to the right people.

“The one we had, we were told that the cancer treatment support does not cover children.

“So, I was wondering, if it can cover adults, then why not children that have a better chance of survival?

“I wouldn’t know where they are now, but from the little I know and the efforts I have made, that is what I was told, that cancer treatment is not covered for children presently.”

According to Ms Adebayo, they are struggling by themselves, appealing,” I will plead .Please, help us plead with the Federal Government to come to our aid.

“This is to make cancer treatment free, especially for the children because they are the leaders of tomorrow.”

President of the Association of Resident Doctors, FCTA, Dr George Ebong, who also spoke on behalf of the Akanimo Cancer Foundation, said taking advocacy to churches was intentional.

Mr Ebong said that the advocacy also held simultaneously in other states across Nigeria including Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Oyo, Abia, Rivers, Enugu, Cross River and the FCT among others.

He said, “The church is the first family that we know. Akanimo was a young boy unfortunately diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer.

“So we feel that the church being a family of God is a place, a very committed place, that this sort of awareness should be carried out.”

According to Mr Ebong, medicine and faith are not opposites, saying, “they work hand in hand,” adding that healing comes from God, but God gives knowledge to doctors so medicine comes and healing comes from faith.

“The Bible talks about faith and works. So, when you have faith in God, you need to also work to make sure that that faith actually materialises.

“Of course, even in the Bible, when Jesus Christ healed the lepers, he told them, go to the temple, meet the priest who acted as doctors then and the Bible also said if people are sick they should visit physicians.”

Mr Ebong noted that many Nigerians, especially men were avoiding hospital visits until it was too late, often due to superstition or fear of appearing weak and encouraged regular medical check-ups even when there were no symptoms.

Speaking on childhood cancer, he listed the warning signs parents should not ignore to include: persistent pain, long lasting fevers, unusual swelling, unexplained bleeding, loss of appetite, constant fatigue, abdominal pain, or behavioural changes in children who were previously active.

He added, “Any child can have cancer. Early detection is the key to proper treatment and a positive prognosis.

“So, I appeal to the government to make cancer treatment for every child in this country to be free not subsidised, but free.”

A cancer survivor of 15 years, diagnosed in 2011, Abiodun Adegoroye, described the emotional shock of facing cancer as a minister.

The cleric stated, “I’m a preacher of the gospel, and I had cancer. It was devastating.It is not true that if you are a Christian, you will not be sick. Faith helped me stand and recover, but I also needed medical treatment.”

He also highlighted environmental factors, warning that poor waste disposal and exposure to harmful chemicals could increase cancer of the blood risks.

An elder of the Church of Christ in Kado, Samuel Ekanem, said the congregation welcomed the awareness initiative because it had already experienced multiple cancer cases within its membership.

He said, “We understand the need for early detection.Even Jesus said the sick need a physician.”

Mr Ekanem stressed that seeking medical care does not contradict faith, noting that the church operated a small clinic that is increasingly serving members out of its belief in medicine and supernatural power.

Another church member, Mary Orji, urged parents to listen carefully to their children’s complaints recounting how a friend died of lymphoma after late diagnosis.

She said, “When you notice something is off, seek medical help. Get second or third opinions. Give that child a fighting chance.”

(NAN)