Partners commit to raise N3.6m to support cancer patients

A 3.6million naira fund raising awareness to support fight cancer, which aims to increase the survival rate of patients who cannot afford medical treatment, has been announced by Foundations.

The Sage Foundation has partnered with The Bricon Foundation; a Nigeria-based non-profit organisation that helps to raise awareness about cancer and assists cancer patients and their families, in the ‘Keeping Hope Alive Challenge’. The challenge aims to raise $10,000 (about N3.6 million) to support cancer patients who cannot afford medical treatment.

The foundations recently sponsored cancer walk for breast cancer patients in Lagos.

“It makes a huge difference in the awareness that can be started up, but also in terms of providing a spotlight to support cancer fight, “The Keeping Hope Alive 10K Challenge” is set to raise $10,000(ten thousand dollars) for patients to support through three events, and also, the foundation forms part of global $1 million challenge which aims support charities around the world,” said Magnus Nmonwu, Regional Director for Sage in West Africa.

As Nmonwu addressed that when detected early, cancer is treatable, and it is not right that millions of people are affected because they cannot afford medical care.

“The Sage Foundation is committed to building opportunities in local communities and we believe that, together, we are stronger against cancer.” Nmonwu said.

According to Abigail Simon-Hart, co-founder of The Bricon Foundation, “Nigeria has the worst cancer death rate in Africa, at a shocking 80%. The majority of deaths are due to late presentation and inaccessibility to medical care.

At Bricon, we believe that, through awareness, early detection and providing appropriate and timely support to cancer patients and their families, we can bring that figure down and make a difference in millions of lives,” says Simon-Hart

Simon-Hart further says that cancer continues to claim the lives of Nigerians every day. Over 80,000 deaths are recorded to the disease with 100,000 new cases each year.

“Nigeria has the worst cancer death rate in Africa, a massive 80% due to late presentation and or inaccessibility to appropriate medical care.

“This lack of access is due to lack of finances and lack of treatment and support centres equipped to handle the disease.

“There are an estimated 2000,000 cancer patients in Nigeria, many of who cannot afford the expensive treatment for the disease, the key to survivor remains awareness and early detection” She said.

Anthonia Obokoh & Angel James