On February 15, 2025, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, in partnership with Sinai Development and Support Initiative, marked the observance of International Childhood Cancer Day.
The primary objective was to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to provide financial assistance for the treatment of affected children.
Dr. Stephen Hwande, the Chief Medical Director, commended this initiative and affirmed the hospital's commitment to supporting vulnerable children battling cancer. He urged young people to establish their own pathways within their fields of interest and to seek opportunities for development within the state.
Dr. Hwande emphasized the hospital's dedication, under the leadership of Governor Alia, to the establishment of a cancer center aimed at mitigating the impact of cancer both in the state and across Nigeria.
Furthermore, Dr. Hwande outlined the hospital's efforts to implement policies designed to attract and retain medical professionals across various specialties, thereby ensuring the delivery of optimal healthcare services.
During the proceedings, Dr. Eche Ijiko, Chief Executive of Sinai Development and Support Initiative, expressed grave concerns regarding the cancer burden in Nigeria, noting that approximately four hundred thousand new cancer cases are diagnosed each year. He asserted that the initiative seeks to provide not only financial assistance to pediatric cancer patients but also emotional and psychological support for their caregivers.
The guest speaker, Professor Edache Okpe, a distinguished expert in Hematology and Oncology from the Federal University of Health Sciences Oturkpo, underscored the necessity of a united commitment to ensure that no child faces cancer alone. He articulated that with timely diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and steadfast support, numerous children could survive and thrive.
Professor Okpe provided alarming statistics indicating that approximately ten thousand children are diagnosed with cancer annually, with many cases remaining undiagnosed. He lamented the low survival rates attributable to insufficient healthcare infrastructure, delayed diagnosis, and financial hardship.
Identifying leukemia, lymphomas, and retinoblastomas as the most prevalent forms of pediatric cancer, Professor Okpe called for collaborative efforts involving the government, non-governmental organizations, healthcare professionals, corporate entities, and the general public to join forces in the fight against childhood cancers.
Beneficiaries of the initiative, Clement Terlumun and Comfort Avadoo, expressed their gratitude to Dr. Ijiko for the initiative and urged for increased support for individuals living with such conditions.