Chinedum Treasure
The Nneka Chidoka Outreach Program (NCOP), led by its founder, Chief Osita Chidoka has called on lawmakers to prioritise increased funding for cancer care in Nigeria’s 2025 budget.
The group during a visit to the Senate Committee on Health, chaired by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo, and the House of Representatives Committee on Special Healthcare, had presented a robust advocacy plan to tackle Nigeria’s cancer crisis during the committees’ budget defence.
NCOP also engaged with various offices and met with Senator Tony Nwoye, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Senator Kenneth Eze, Honourable Uche Okonkwo, Honourable Abel Gwamna, amongst others as part of its advocacy efforts.
Chidoka highlighted urgent need to transition the Cancer Health Fund (CHF) into a sustainable Catastrophic Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) which will cover cancer, sickle cell and renal disease with an initial allocation of ₦25 billion.
Additionally, NCOP urged the legislators to prioritise completion and upgrading of six Cancer Centres of Excellence, by providing the ₦97 billion funding gap in the 2025 budget.
Speaking at the session, Chief Chidoka stressed the devastating impact of inadequate cancer funding, noting that over 124,000 Nigerians are diagnosed annually, with many unable to access life-saving treatment.
“Cancer treatment must be accessible to all Nigerians, regardless of their location or resources. Our lawmakers must act decisively to save lives by investing in sustainable and equitable cancer care,” he added.
Every year, over 124,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer, yet limited infrastructure and insufficient funding mean that only a small fraction of patients receive the treatment they need.
Alarmingly, over $2 billion is spent annually on medical tourism, with cancer treatment accounting for the largest share. This is both unsustainable and inequitable.
NCOP, which has been working closely with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), fully supports the Minister’s bold plan to reform the health sector.
Chief Chidoka reiterated NCOP’s commitment to working with stakeholders to ensure no Nigerian is left behind in the fight against cancer.
He also emphasised that proper funding for cancer care would not only save countless lives but also reduce Nigeria’s dependence on medical tourism. He called on all Nigerians to lend their voices to this cause by signing NCOP’s petition for increased funding.
“We cannot continue to watch Nigerians lose their lives due to lack of access to treatment. Cancer is a national emergency, and the time to act is now,” Chidoka stated.
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