Writing by LILIAN SILAS; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
A call has been made on government at all levels, private sector players, health institutions, and development partners to strengthen cancer prevention strategies, invest in early screening programmes, subsidise treatment costs, and decentralise oncology services to reach rural and underserved communities.
Founder/Chief Executive Officer of a non governmental organization, Hassy’s Haven Foundation, Hussaina Mohammed Yakubu stated this in Kaduna
as the world commemorates World Cancer Day.
She stressed that Cancer is no longer a distant health challenge as it is a daily reality destroying families, draining livelihoods, and robbing society of productive lives, adding that thousands of women are diagnosed late, because early detection, accurate information, and affordable care remains out of reach for the most vulnerable.
Hussaina Mohammed Yakubu, said World Cancer Day is a reminder that cancer is not just a medical condition but a social justice issue, which prompts Hassy’s Haven Foundation to join the global community to raise its voice against the growing burden of cancer, particularly among indigent women who suffer and die silently due to poverty, stigma, and lack of access to timely care.
She stressed that the Foundation, established in memory of her late twin sister, Hassana Yakubu, who battled cancer with courage for eight years, remains committed to providing emotional support, advocacy, sensitization, and financial assistance to indigent female cancer patients, as well as widows and orphans affected by the disease.
“My sister fought cancer with dignity, strength, and hope. Through Hassy’s Haven Foundation, we have chosen to turn pain into purpose—by standing with women who have no voice, no access, and no safety net,” Hussaina added.
The Foundation also urged the public to break the culture of silence and stigma surrounding cancer, emphasising that early detection saves lives and community support improves survival outcomes.
“On this World Cancer Day, we are not just wearing ribbons; we are demanding action. Cancer care must be a right, not a privilege. Together, we can reduce preventable deaths and restore hope to thousands of families,”
World Cancer Day is observed annually on February 4 to raise awareness, improve education, and mobilise action towards a world where cancer no longer claims lives unnecessarily.
