By Muhammad Adam, Kano
The Kano Cancer Treatment Centre (KCTC) has provided free radiotherapy treatment valued at over N12 million to 10 indigent cancer patients in Kano State, providing critical support to patients who were unable to afford the cost of treatment.
The intervention was approved for patients who were assessed and confirmed to be financially incapable of accessing radiotherapy services.
The beneficiaries comprised patients referred through the Kano State Ministry of Health and others receiving treatment at the centre.
Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Executive Officer of KCTC, Dr. Nafisa Abdu, said the intervention reflects the centre’s commitment to improving access to cancer care and enhancing the quality of life of vulnerable patients.
She said the initiative was particularly important for patients diagnosed with advanced cancer, whose treatment often focuses on controlling the disease, managing symptoms and improving their quality of life.
“At the cancer centre where I work, our responsibility is to treat cancer patients. For those whose cases are beyond cure, especially stages three and four, we focus on managing the disease to improve their quality of life,” Dr. Nafisa said.
The KCTC Chief Executive expressed concern over the increasing burden of cancer, warning that more families could be affected if access to prevention, early detection and treatment services is not strengthened.
She noted that radiotherapy remains an essential component of treatment for several types of cancer but is often financially inaccessible to patients, with treatment costs potentially exceeding N1 million.
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According to her, financial constraints have forced some patients to discontinue or abandon treatment.
“Some of these patients had completely given up on treatment because they simply could not afford it,” she said.
Dr. Nafisa explained that the beneficiaries were carefully selected through a discreet assessment process to ensure that the intervention reached patients with genuine financial needs.
“Our goal was not publicity but impact. We worked with our team to identify patients who had exhausted all options and truly had no means of support,” she said.
She emphasised that the programme was specifically designed to assist indigent patients who genuinely could not afford cancer treatment.
“Our focus is on indigent patients, those who genuinely cannot afford treatment, not those who can pay but choose not to,” she stressed.
Dr. Nafisa expressed optimism that the initiative would be sustained as an annual programme to enable more financially vulnerable cancer patients to access essential treatment.
Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, uses high-energy radiation to destroy or control cancer cells. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, it may be used with curative intent or to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients with advanced disease.
The centre said the intervention highlights the importance of strengthening partnerships and support mechanisms to reduce financial barriers to cancer treatment and ensure that vulnerable patients are not denied essential care because of their inability to pay.
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