On Sara Sidner and the need to support Nonye Soludo’s crusade against cancer in Nigeria

Last Monday, it was difficult for many to hold back their tears after watching the viral video of Sara Sidner, co-anchor of the morning edition of CNN News Central, revealing her cancer diagnosis to the world. “I have never been sick a day in my life. I don’t smoke. I rarely drink. Breast cancer does not run in my family and yet here I am with Stage III breast cancer’’, the 51-year-old African-American journalist said, last Monday, while closing out a segment on CNN News Central. Sara Sidner’s announcement raises the awareness of the plight of women and the need to support various charitable causes in developing countries, like Nigeria.

Sara Sidner said ‘’Stage III breast cancer is not a death sentence anymore for the vast majority of women’’. This is true. But she might be talking about women who live in her part of the world – in developed countries where healthcare is at an advanced stage. The World Health Organization (WHO) says an average of 10 million people die of cancer annually worldwide. 70 percent of these deaths, WHO estimates, occur in low-to-middle income countries including Nigeria.

We pray that the good Lord grants Sara Sidner a speedy recovery.

The impact of ailments such as breast cancer on poor women in Nigeria is worrisome. Breast cancer remains the leading cause of death amongst Nigerian women, while cervical cancer, on the other hand, kills an average of 23 to 28 women daily in Nigeria, according to the founder of Breast Without Spot Foundation, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye.

One woman, the first lady of Anambra State and wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs Nonye Soludo, has taken it upon herself to raise the awareness of these diseases and encourage healthy living. She also plans to mobilize support for the treatment of indigent women who are suffering from these kinds of ailments in the coming months. Nonye Soludo is passionate about making life better for rural women and devotes her time to activities that impact the poor positively.

Through her Healthy Living Initiative, which is built on five pillars – nutrition, physical fitness, hygiene, emergency basic life support and reproductive health – Nonye Soludo believes that Nigerians can live a better and productive life.

Recently, Nonye Soludo has taken her advocacy to a new level. She believes that wealthy Nigerians need to support government’s efforts in helping the poor and less privilege in their fight against non-communicable diseases. She believes that this is one way to do the work of God on earth. She is ready to work with organizations that are passionate about fighting cancer in Nigeria.

In her message to kick off the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in Anambra State, Nonye Soludo announced that through a partnership between World Health Organization (WHO), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Anambra State, over 5000 women have been screened free of charge, while those whose diagnosis came back positive were treated at no costs. She also said that the state is currently expanding the intervention to reach more women and girls, especially those living in rural areas.

Currently, the first lady of Anambra is working out ways to support indigent women who have been inflicted by breast cancer. It is not going to be an easy task but it will take a heart of stone not to want to do something after seeing the experience of indigent Nigerians who are battling with cancer. She plans to work with well-meaning Nigerians to touch the lives of the poor.

Nonye Soludo needs the support of well-meaning Nigerians. The same goes to other charity organizations around Nigeria, who are touching the lives of poor people.

For the average Nigerian, the cost of the treatment of cancer is unbearable. Many Nigerians have fallen into poverty trying to treat cancer. This is also the case in most developing countries and Nigeria is not alone. In 2022, Dataphyte reported that chemotherapy, a required treatment for cancer especially at advanced stages, costs between N600,000 to N1.5 million per session. This amount must have gone up today in Nigeria – a country with a minimum wage of N30,000 per month.

Due to the high cost of treatment, some patients end up staying at home and waiting for death. Some are even exploited by fake prophets and pastors.

Imagine the impact of this disease on a person who lives on less than a dollar a day! The non-inclusion of many types of cancer in the country’s national health insurance scheme has left many cancer patients stranded.

According to Dr Abdulrasheed Abdullahi, an oncologist, many Nigerians cannot afford cancer treatments due to the high cost, hence there is need for NGOs and other well-meaning individuals to support cancer patients in order to reduce treatment costs. Even laudable initiatives such as Nigeria’s Cancer Treatment Fund needs to be augmented by public spirited individuals. As it is today, government – at all levels – cannot do it alone.

The need to support indigent Nigerians in their fight against non-communicable diseases cannot be over-emphasized. Wealthy Nigerians, international organizations and NGOs need to rally round crusades – such as Nonye Soludo’s Healthy Living Crusade – in order to bring succor to indigent families.