Closing The Cancer Care Gap In Northeast Nigeria Through Telemedicine
By HALIMA TAKWAS
HEALTH experts have unveiled a TeleOncology Hub aimed at transforming access to cancer care in Northeastern Nigeria, a region long burdened by limited specialist services, late diagnoses, and high mortality rates. The initiative, launched by the Cancer Consciousness Initiative (CCI), leverages telemedicine, virtual specialist collaboration, and patient navigation to bridge critical gaps in oncology care for underserved populations.
Speaking in Abuja, Dr. Hannatu Ayuba, Chief Executive Officer of CCI and Programme Lead of the TeleOncology Hub, described the initiative as a health system–strengthening intervention designed to address structural inequalities in cancer treatment. She noted that the burden of cancer in the Northeast continues to rise, while access to oncology specialists remains scarce, forcing many patients to travel long distances or forgo care entirely.
According to Ayuba, breast cancer alone accounts for about 60 per cent of cancer cases in the region, with most patients presenting at advanced stages when treatment options are limited and outcomes poorer. She stressed that delays in diagnosis are often driven by poor awareness, cultural barriers, and weak referral systems. These factors, she said, significantly reduce survival chances and deepen existing health disparities.
The TeleOncology Hub seeks to reverse this trend by enabling patients in remote communities to consult oncology specialists virtually, while healthcare workers participate in Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings that support accurate diagnosis and coordinated treatment planning. Through digital platforms, specialists across institutions can now jointly review cases, reducing delays that previously stretched into months.
Since its inauguration in April at the Federal Medical Centre in Jalingo, the hub has expanded to partner institutions including Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, FMC Nguru, and Yobe State University Teaching Hospital in Damaturu. These collaborations have extended tele-oncology services to areas previously cut off from specialist care, improving referral efficiency and continuity of treatment.
The initiative also includes a community patient navigation programme launched in Borno State in partnership with the Grow Strong Foundation. By combining telemedicine consultations, electronic medical record monitoring, and real-time guidance, the programme has already onboarded over 35 patients, with more than 85 per cent receiving timely diagnoses, treatment initiation, or follow-up care.
Beyond patient services, CCI has trained doctors, nurses, and pharmacy staff in oncology care, digital health tools, and navigation systems, strengthening local capacity. Strategic partnerships with pharmaceutical assistance programmes now provide free immunohistochemistry testing for thousands of women and molecular testing for colorectal and lung cancer patients, significantly reducing diagnostic costs.
Despite these gains, Ayuba acknowledged persistent challenges, including low health insurance coverage, financial hardship, and cultural stigma surrounding cancer. With fewer than one in ten patients enrolled in insurance schemes at some centres, CCI has introduced financial counselling and support for transportation and treatment logistics.
Looking ahead, CCI plans to expand the TeleOncology Hub nationwide, integrate advanced diagnostics through digital health networks, and advocate for stronger policy and funding support. Ayuba said the ultimate goal is to ensure that geography and income no longer determine who survives cancer in Nigeria.
