• NGO pledges to give victims, others lifeline
By Vivian Onyebukwa
Cancer has been described as one of the world’s major killers. Recently the World Health Organisation warned of a global “tidal wave” of cancer, saying that by 2035, around 24 million people will have the disease.
Cancer has become one of the most common causes of deaths in many countries, including Nigeria, affecting both male and female, including the young and the old.
A young lady, Faith Monday, from Akwa Ibom State, narrated to Saturday Sun the pain she is going through as a result of her breast cancer. Monday, who resides in Lagos and works with a non-governmental organisation, Esther Child Foundation as a secretary, has for some time now stopped going to work because of her health condition. She narrated how her ordeal started two years ago as a breast lump. She said she went for a surgery in a private hospital, but it later resurfaced after some time at that same spot where the lump was.
“I went to the doctor and complained, and the doctor advised that I should wait for sometime so that they would know what exactly it was about. After sometime, it became bigger and it got burst”.
Today, she is battling the illness which has been diagnosed as a stage three cancer. The offensive odour oozing out from the wound is one other thing that gives her concern. She had since gone back to the hospital for treatment, but lamented what she called the lukewarm attitude of the hospital authorities.
“If you go there, people are dying. When I got there, patients booked for surgery last month are yet to be attended to. One doctor would attend to people in a section. There they sent me to do about seven different types of test, costing about N212,100, which I cannot afford till now. After there, they referred me to the chemo department where they also gave me their own appointment. I have not been able to do any of the tests because I cannot afford any of them. I am really in pain,” she lamented.
Another cancer patient, Evelyn Udechi said she had cancer of the eye when she was just six years old. Then, she was taken to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu where she was operated on and had the affected eye removed. “Since then, I did not have any issue with it after removing the eye. So about three years ago, I started feeling pains with this my cheeks. I started going to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. At last, about two months ago, they said they should operate my eye and asked me to pay N600,000. I had only N300.000 and I begged them with the N300,000 which I had. The woman I met there refused. I’m feeling headache even as I speak. I take analgesics every 30 minutes to ease the pain,” she stated.
NGO to the rescue
In order to assist cancer patients, a non-governmental organisation called “Esther Child Right Foundation”, and Apostle Ifeanyi Chukwu Ekwem who lives in London, decided to come together to find a way of assistance to cancer victims. The event with the Theme: “There Is No Time, My Father Can Work It Out”, was held in Lagos, with some of the cancer victims in attendance.
Founder, “Esther Child Right Foundation”, Ambassador Esther Obioma Ekwem, who coordinated the event said the programme was inspired by the loss of their sister who died of cancer few months ago.
She noted that cancer problem is not only in Nigeria, but it is global. “It is eating deep. We discovered that people are not checking themselves. If you look very well you can see how people are behaving. People find it difficult to even check their brains. That is the more reason why people need to get to the level of checking their bodies.”
She advised that people should not only check themselves, but should also speak out. “When you see something, say something. If you are sick, speak out. My advice to women is that, they are also struggling too much. They don’t have time to check themselves. They should learn to check their bodies so that they can live for their children.”
Apostle Ifeanyi Chukwu Ekwem, the host of the event, reiterated the idea behind the programme, which is due to the loss of his younger sister to breast cancer who died in 2024. Expressing his sad feelings he said: “I lost her under very sad circumstances because she did not speak up. Also, she thought that prayer would cure the cancer, but this is not a solution to the cancer. So because I lost her, I decided I am going to do something about it.”
While disclosing his plans towards the project, he said: “The best thing I should do is to ensure that nobody else should go through this experience. She would have lived if she had spoken up by eight years ago. She had it for 12 years, but the preceding eight years, something would have been done, but she didn’t tell anyone what was going on. This is why I decided to take this opportunity, to speak about it, bring some solemn awareness to Nigerians and women in particular.”
Apostle Ifeanyi Chukwu Ekwem told Saturday Sun how the idea was conceived. “After her death, a lot of things were going through my mind. I was sleeping and I remember a message came to me. The message was to set up a charity on her behalf. What the charity would do is, any man or woman who is going through pains or complications in the early stages of their lives, should go and get a test. But for them to get that test, it would be paid by my charity and ministry which I am about to set up. The charity would be named “Osiruchi. My mother’s maiden name is Osi. My late sister’s name is Oruchi. So I am calling it Osiruchi in association with Esther Child’s Right Foundation. I am yet to come up with the name of the ministry which will go hand in hand with my charity.”
He further stated that to care for the victims, an individual is not going to get any money at all. The money would be paid to a reputable hospital for the test. “In a situation where the victim would be unable to pay at least the minimum, the charity would pay for that. The ministry would also support the person with prayer while the person would be going through his or her treatment. It does not matter your denomination, you would be prayed for. The rich people of the country would have to build this up. No poor person is expected to contribute to the planned project.”
He described the efforts of the government towards combating the menace as rather unfortunate. The government, he said, has got a lot of things to do, therefore he can’t wait for the government. “I am 64 years old now. I have been waiting for the government to take care of our people, but they are not. If the government can make a contribution to what I plan to do, all well and good, but I would like them to come in so that we can help a majority of women and men who are going through, not just breast cancer, but any form of cancer. Then we also have children. Everyone out there has one or two things they are going through. If the government is willing or able, they are welcome to come to talk to me and I would give them a breakdown of what I am about to do.”
The Special Guest of Honour at the event, Bishop Lois Bartholomew of Christ Triumphant Ministry, described cancer as deadly and dangerous.
“It’s killing. People are dying. The government should look into the lives of their citizens. People’s lives are at stake. They are not aware of where to get help. Some of them when they get to the hospital and get appointment, before it is time to go for the appointment, they die. The government is not doing much for these people. We are pleading with them to rescue these people.”
Rauhon Muaz, a Northerner and Muslim at the event, appreciated the forum, noting that even though most of the people in attendance were Igbos and Christians, everyone was welcomed and appreciated.
“What is more important here is the message and the philanthropic aspect of it. That is what impressed me. It is not about preaching, but more of how we can help fellow humans, and that is the main reason God is sending prophets. Jesus is here, not just to be speaking, but to heal, assist, and to have unity among humans as a whole. That is why Prophet Mohammed is here to not just also to speak or preach but to change the behaviour of people and help people in many different human. He is not here to just speak to people or preach, but he is bringing a physical way of helping people that we can see in reality, not just words and prayers. Prayer is not just enough, but activities matter.”
Also speaking, Mubarak Ahmed, a Muslim too added, “This is my first time of attending a Christian activity like this, and they paid more attention to community and people. I am very happy. People need help as far as this cancer issue is concerned. There is no need to wait for government to do something. People can come together and help people.