A Kaduna-based foundation warns that poverty and stigma are worsening the cancer burden on women in Nigeria, calling for urgent coordinated action
A Kaduna-based non-governmental organisation, Hassy’s Haven Foundation, has raised alarm over the growing cancer burden on women in Nigeria, warning that poverty, stigma and limited access to healthcare are driving preventable deaths, particularly among indigent women.
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The call was made on Wednesday as the world marked World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4 to promote awareness and collective action against cancer.
The Foundation said many Nigerian women continue to present at advanced stages of cancer despite the availability of treatment options, largely due to poor access to screening services, limited public awareness and the prohibitive cost of care.
According to the organisation, cancer has become a daily reality for many families, draining household incomes, deepening poverty and cutting short the lives of women in their most productive years.
Speaking on the significance of World Cancer Day, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Hassy’s Haven Foundation, Hussaina Yakubu, described the crisis as both a health emergency and a social justice issue.
“Too many women are dying, not because cancer is untreatable, but because they are poor, unheard and unsupported. No woman should have to choose between feeding her children and accessing cancer care,” Yakubu said.
She noted that beyond medical treatment, emotional support and community understanding remain critical, as many patients are forced to battle the disease in isolation due to fear and stigma.
Yakubu explained that the Foundation was established in memory of her late twin sister, Hassana ‘Hassylove’ Yakubu, who battled cancer for eight years before her death.
She described the initiative as a deliberate effort to turn personal loss into purposeful advocacy.
“My sister fought with dignity and hope. Through this Foundation, we are standing with women who have no voice, no access and no safety net,” she said.
Hassy’s Haven Foundation currently provides emotional support, advocacy, public sensitisation and financial assistance to indigent female cancer patients, as well as widows and orphans affected by the disease.
The organisation urged governments at all levels to prioritise cancer prevention through affordable and widespread screening programmes, alongside sustained public health education.
It also called on the private sector and development partners to subsidise treatment costs and expand oncology services to rural and underserved communities.
Yakubu stressed that decentralising cancer care would significantly reduce late diagnoses and improve survival outcomes for women who currently lack access to specialised facilities.
She also appealed to the public to confront the stigma surrounding cancer, warning that fear and misinformation continue to discourage early medical intervention.
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“On this World Cancer Day, we are not just wearing ribbons; we are demanding action. Cancer care must be a right, not a privilege,” Yakubu said.
