Adamawa Moves Beyond Breast Cancer Awareness

….Targets Early Diagnosis, Treatment Support

From Yagana Ali, Yola

The Adamawa State Government has intensified efforts to tackle breast cancer by expanding access to early diagnosis, professional medical care and patient support, as health authorities warn that financial hardship and limited access to specialized services continue to delay treatment for many women.

The initiative, organized in collaboration with the Cancer Consciousness Initiative, was unveiled during the 2026 Pinktober Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, under the theme, “Awareness to Access.”

The campaign seeks to bridge the gap between public knowledge of breast cancer symptoms and the ability of women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to obtain timely medical investigations and appropriate treatment.

Speaking at the event, the North-East Convener of Pinktober 2026 and Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Consciousness Initiative, Ayuba Hannatu Usman, said the programme was designed to ensure that women who suspect they have breast cancer can access diagnostic services and professional medical guidance without unnecessary delays.

Usman, a consultant in radiation and clinical oncology at the National Hospital, Abuja, and leader of the Tele-Oncology Hub programme, observed that although awareness of breast cancer had improved, many women remained unable to undergo essential medical investigations because of financial constraints.

She explained that the campaign would provide breast examinations and ultrasound scans, with biopsies recommended for women whose clinical findings required further investigation.

According to her, tissue samples collected during the exercise would undergo laboratory examinations, including histology and immunohistochemistry, to establish accurate diagnoses and guide appropriate treatment decisions.

“Many women already know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, but what they need is access to diagnosis,” she said, emphasising that discovering a suspicious lump was only the beginning of the process towards effective medical care.

To prevent patients from abandoning treatment because of financial difficulties, fear or inadequate information, Usman said the initiative would deploy community social navigators to guide affected women through the healthcare system.

The navigators would assist patients with referrals, hospital appointments and continued engagement with qualified healthcare professionals, including multidisciplinary teams responsible for determining appropriate treatment plans.

She further disclosed that the initiative was pursuing a health insurance support arrangement for women requiring breast biopsies. 

Under the proposed programme, 100 women from each participating state would benefit from insurance support, subject to implementation and the availability of funding.

Usman said the initiative was awaiting further action on budgetary provisions by the North-East Development Commission, adding that the cost of transportation, medication, medical investigations and repeated hospital visits often placed additional burdens on cancer patients.

She urged women who had discovered breast lumps but could not afford medical investigations to take advantage of the campaign, which was expected to run for two to three days at MAUTH, Yola. 

She also called for greater outreach to rural communities, where distance and limited access to specialized healthcare frequently delay diagnosis.

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of Adamawa State University Teaching Hospital, Yola, Dauda Wadunga, who represented the wife of the state governor, Hajiya Lami Ahmadu Fintiri, commended the First Lady for her sustained support for cancer awareness, screening, treatment and patient welfare.

Wadunga recalled that previous interventions had provided free cervical and breast cancer screening for approximately 5,000 women in each category, alongside free mammography services to encourage early detection.

He said the First Lady’s interventions extended beyond awareness campaigns to practical support for women facing cancer-related challenges, including treatment and rehabilitation initiatives. 

He added that she had received a certificate of recognition in appreciation of her contributions to cancer advocacy in the state.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of MAUTH, Professor Adamu Girei, represented by Maisaratu Bakari, called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, healthcare professionals and communities to reduce the burden of breast cancer.

Bakari stressed that early detection and appropriate treatment could improve survival prospects, urging women to seek medical evaluation promptly whenever they noticed unusual changes in their breasts.

She called on religious and community leaders, families, the media and civil society organisations to promote accurate information, challenge misconceptions and discourage the stigmatisation of women living with cancer.

The hospital representative also urged members of the public to treat cancer patients with compassion and dignity before formally flagging off the campaign on behalf of the chief medical director.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Adamawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Sulaiman Bashir, pledged the agency’s support for expanding cancer awareness and strengthening referral services across the state.

Bashir said the agency’s network of more than 7,136 personnel and 1,073 healthcare facilities across Adamawa’s 21 local government areas offered a strategic platform for reaching underserved communities and connecting women to appropriate medical services.

The 2026 Pinktober campaign highlights the need to move breast cancer advocacy beyond public sensitisation to practical interventions that make screening, diagnosis and treatment more accessible to women, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Stakeholders at the event maintained that sustained collaboration, adequate funding and stronger community engagement would be essential to ensuring that women who need medical attention are not left behind.

They emphasised that while awareness helps women recognise potential warning signs, timely diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment remain critical to improving outcomes for those affected by breast cancer.