Assy’s Haven Foundation has called on the Federal Government to urgently improve cancer prevention, early detection, and affordable treatment programmes for indigent women, warning that poverty, late diagnosis, and limited access to healthcare are costing lives.
The appeal was made on Wednesday in Kaduna to mark World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4.
The foundation’s CEO, Hussaina Yakubu, said many women die not because cancer is untreatable, but because they cannot afford timely care or face stigma. “Too many women are dying because they are poor, unheard, and unsupported. No woman should have to choose between feeding her children and accessing cancer care,” she said.
Yakubu explained that Assy’s Haven was established in memory of her late twin sister, Hassana Yakubu, who battled cancer for eight years. The foundation provides emotional support, advocacy, awareness campaigns, and financial assistance to indigent female cancer patients, as well as widows and children affected by the disease.
Extending its mission beyond direct support, the foundation is calling on state governments, private-sector groups, and development partners to invest in early screening, subsidize treatment costs, and decentralize oncology services to rural communities.
It also urged Nigerians to break the silence and stigma surrounding cancer, stressing that early detection and strong community support significantly improve survival outcomes.
Yakubu reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to supporting vulnerable women and appealed for partnerships with federal and state governments, as well as relevant organizations, to expand its reach and impact.