Dr Maryam Abdulrahman-Raji, Senior Registrar, Oncology Unit, National Hospital, Abuja (NHA), has called for increased support and investment in pediatric cancer care to improve treatment outcomes and save lives of children suffering from cancer.
She made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of an event for children with cancer, organised by Okapi Children Cancer Foundation (OkapiCCF) in Abuja on Tuesday.
She highlighted significant gaps in pediatric cancer care, citing delayed patient presentation, lack of diagnostic facilities and unaffordable treatment costs as major challenges affecting children with cancer.
According to her, most patients present late with advanced-stage cancer, limiting treatment options.
She said “most of our patients have delayed presentation, meaning they don’t come early. So that also affects the overall treatment and outcome of these children.
“They come late, so by the time they arrive, the cancer is at advanced stage, which most of the times, we basically can’t do much for the children.”
She noted the lack of cancer diagnosis facilities in the country contribute to the cost of care and treatment and hinder some children from accessing care.
She explained that “a pint of platelets for a child is worth almost N850,000 and children with cancer need more than one pint while on admission.
“Imagine a parent having to look for that kind of money out of pocket is very, very overwhelming.
“Healthcare practitioners go through this with the parents always, sourcing for funds for such children.
“Beside that, the drugs are usually paid out of pocket too. There’s no subsidised form of chemotherapeutic agents and the blood boosters that we normally use for these children.”
Other challenges, she noted, include the lack of subsidised chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant facilities and diagnostic centre in the country.
“These patients don’t have access to bone marrow transplant facilities in the country and have to travel out of the country for that,” she added.
The oncologist, therefore, emphasised the need for practical solutions beyond policy-making and implementation of such policies to address gaps in the health sector and improve access to care and management of cancer in the country.(NAN)
