The Nigerian government has launched a N50 million Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Fund to support cancer patients facing financial and social barriers to accessing treatment across the country.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced the intervention during the official flag-off of the fund’s implementation in Abuja.
According to him, the initiative is designed to provide timely, equitable and accountable non-medical support to cancer patients who struggle with challenges such as transportation, accommodation, feeding and inadequate social support.
“Many cancer patients are unable to commence or complete treatment despite ongoing efforts to improve cancer care infrastructure and subsidise treatment”.
He noted that these social and economic barriers often result in delayed treatment, poor adherence to care and unfavourable health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable and low-income patients.
Dr. Salako explained that the fund emerged from a key recommendation of the National Cancer Control Plan Technical Working Group following the launch of the Nigeria Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030.
He commended the group, led by Professor Folakemi Odedina and supported by the Director-General of NICRAT, Professor Malami Aliyu, for demonstrating commitment through personal donations and resource mobilisation efforts.
The minister said the initiative aligns with the broader mandate of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to address social determinants that negatively affect health outcomes, adding that the pilot phase of the programme will complement existing interventions such as the Cancer Health Fund, Cancer Access Partnership, Vulnerable Group Fund and the NCS Cancer Intervention Fund.
He disclosed that more than 600 cancer patients have already applied for support, while over 200 applicants have been verified through a process involving medical directors and attending physicians at treatment centres nationwide.
He stated that all verified beneficiaries will receive at least N100,000 each to help address non-medical barriers to treatment, with funds disbursed directly to the patients. He emphasised that the support is intended to improve treatment access and completion rates among cancer patients.
He urged fund managers to uphold transparency, accountability and due diligence in the administration of the programme.
Dr. Salako assured Nigerians living with cancer that the government is expanding screening services, treatment infrastructure, chemotherapy and radiotherapy support programmes to ensure that a cancer diagnosis does not become a death sentence.
He reiterated the government’s target of achieving a 50 per cent reduction in the national cancer burden by 2030.
