Adamawa Moves Beyond Cancer Awareness, Targets Affordable Diagnosis, Treatment

By Yagana Ali, Yola

The Adamawa State Government has launched a new initiative to bridge the gap between breast cancer awareness and access to affordable diagnosis and treatment, with plans to provide diagnostic investigations, specialist referrals and follow-up support for women suspected of having the disease.

The initiative, launched under the 2026 Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign in collaboration with the Cancer Consciousness Initiative, is designed to address the financial and healthcare barriers that often prevent women from obtaining timely medical attention.

Held at the Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, the campaign, themed “Awareness to Access,” seeks to ensure that women who recognise the symptoms of breast cancer can also access the medical investigations and professional care required to determine their health status.

At the centre of the programme is a plan to provide breast ultrasound scans, biopsies, laboratory investigations and specialist referrals for women with suspicious breast lumps or lesions.

Convener of Pinktober 2026 for the North-East, Dr. Ayuba Annette Usman, said the campaign was designed to move beyond public enlightenment and provide practical support for women who might otherwise be unable to afford diagnostic services.

Usman, a consultant in radiation and clinical oncology at the National Hospital, Abuja, and Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Consciousness Initiative, said awareness campaigns must be accompanied by interventions that help women obtain timely and accurate diagnoses.

“We are bringing awareness and access, not just awareness. Many women know what the signs and symptoms of breast cancer are. What we are doing is bringing access to diagnosis,” she said.

She explained that women with suspicious breast abnormalities would be supported to undergo appropriate investigations, including biopsies, while tissue samples would be subjected to laboratory analysis to establish an accurate diagnosis and guide subsequent medical decisions.

The investigations are expected to include histology and immunohistochemistry, which help specialists determine the nature of abnormal tissue and identify relevant information for treatment planning.

Usman, who also leads the Tele-Oncology Hub programme aimed at improving access to cancer-related services, said one of the major challenges in cancer management was ensuring that patients continued treatment after initial screening or diagnosis.

According to her, some women abandon medical care because of financial difficulties, inadequate guidance or the challenges of navigating the healthcare system, while others resort to unqualified practitioners when they cannot afford professional services.

To address the problem, the initiative plans to deploy community social navigators to help patients access appropriate healthcare facilities, attend medical appointments and remain connected to healthcare professionals throughout their treatment journey.

The navigators are also expected to work within communities, contact patients and conduct follow-up visits to ensure that women referred for further investigations do not drop out of the healthcare system.

Usman said patients requiring specialised attention would be referred to multidisciplinary medical teams, where professionals from different fields would jointly assess their cases and develop appropriate treatment plans.

She stressed that early detection would have limited impact if women were left without the financial resources and professional guidance needed to pursue treatment after receiving their diagnoses.

The oncologist further disclosed that the Cancer Consciousness Initiative was pursuing a plan to provide health insurance coverage for women who undergo breast biopsies under the programme.

She said the initiative was awaiting further action on budgetary provisions by the North-East Development Commission to facilitate the proposed arrangement.

Under the proposal, 100 women from each participating state who undergo breast biopsies would receive health insurance support, subject to the implementation of the programme.

Usman described the proposed insurance arrangement as an important intervention that could reduce the financial burden on women, particularly those from low-income households who struggle to pay for repeated hospital visits, laboratory investigations and medication.

She noted that a cancer diagnosis often marks the beginning of a prolonged and financially demanding medical journey, making it necessary to provide assistance beyond the initial screening exercise.

She urged women who had discovered breast lumps but could not afford diagnostic investigations to seek professional medical assessment and take advantage of available support under the initiative.

The convener added that community-based engagement would help extend the campaign to rural areas, where poverty, distance and limited access to specialised healthcare services often discourage women from seeking medical attention promptly.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of Adamawa State University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Dr. Dauda Wadunga, commended the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Lami Ahmadu Fintiri, for her contributions to cancer awareness, screening, treatment and rehabilitation.

Wadunga, who represented the First Lady at the event, described her as a consistent advocate for cancer prevention and improved access to medical care for women in the state.

He recalled that she had supported free cervical and breast cancer screening exercises earlier in the year, during which approximately 5,000 women were screened for each category of cancer.

He also highlighted the provision of free mammography services and other interventions aimed at improving early detection, treatment, rehabilitation and the empowerment of cancer patients.

According to him, the First Lady received a certificate of recognition in acknowledgement of her contributions to cancer advocacy in Adamawa State.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital, Professor Adamu Girei, represented by Dr. Maisaratu Bakari, called for stronger collaboration among healthcare institutions, government agencies and communities to reduce the burden of breast cancer.

He described the campaign as an opportunity to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and the public through accurate information, early detection and timely referral.

Bakari, speaking on behalf of the chief medical director, said breast cancer should not automatically be regarded as a death sentence, noting that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment could improve patients’ outcomes.

She urged women to familiarise themselves with their breasts, promptly report unusual changes and seek professional medical assessment rather than delay care because of fear or misinformation.

She also called on government agencies, healthcare professionals, community and religious leaders, the media, civil society organisations and families to take the campaign beyond hospitals and extend its message to homes, workplaces, schools, places of worship and rural communities.

Bakari stressed the need to support women living with breast cancer with compassion and dignity, warning against the stigma that can further compound the difficulties faced by patients.

She subsequently flagged off the awareness campaign on behalf of the hospital’s chief medical director.

In a related development, the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency pledged to support the initiative by deploying its personnel and healthcare facilities to expand public awareness and strengthen community-level interventions.

The Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Sulaiman Bashir, said the agency’s network of more than 7,136 personnel and 1,073 healthcare facilities across Adamawa’s 21 local government areas would provide a platform for reaching more women with information and appropriate healthcare services.

Bashir said the agency was prepared to collaborate with government institutions, healthcare providers and other stakeholders to translate the campaign’s theme, “Awareness to Access,” into practical interventions.

He also emphasised the importance of stronger institutional collaboration and multidisciplinary care in improving cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

The 2026 Pinktober campaign highlights the need to move breast cancer advocacy beyond public enlightenment to a comprehensive approach that connects women with diagnostic services, qualified medical professionals and sustained patient support.

However, the long-term impact of the initiative will depend on sustained funding, effective referral systems, affordable treatment and consistent follow-up to ensure that women can continue receiving care after diagnosis.

For women who have discovered suspicious breast lumps but have been unable to afford medical investigations, the programme offers a potential pathway towards professional assessment and appropriate care.

Stakeholders say sustained investment in accessible healthcare services and stronger community participation will be essential to ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent women from obtaining timely medical attention.

The central message of the campaign is that awareness must lead to action, diagnosis must lead to appropriate care, and women battling breast cancer must not be left to navigate the healthcare system alone.