Group Demands Patient Navigators in Cancer Centres

For many Nigerian women, a breast cancer diagnosis is the start of a confusing and lonely journey through a fragmented healthcare system.

To bridge this gap, Project Pink Blue Health & Psychological Trust Centre has called on the Federal and State governments to urgently implement “patient navigation” services across all cancer centres.

The advocacy group argues that while medical treatment is vital, patients often get “lost” between diagnosis and therapy due to fear, stigma, and a lack of clear information barriers that structured navigation could dismantle.

The call was made during the Women Empowering Women Breast Cancer Navigation & Technology Programme (WEW-BCNaP) training in Abuja, supported by AstraZeneca.

The initiative seeks to transform breast cancer survivors, retired nurses, and healthcare workers into “navigators” trained guides who walk side-by-side with patients to ensure they don’t miss appointments or abandon their care. Runcie Chidebe, Executive Director of Project Pink Blue, highlighted the grim reality of the disease, noting that Nigeria saw over 32,000 new cases and 16,000 deaths in 2022 alone, with an alarming rise among younger women.

Beyond human support, the program is leveraging mobile technology to make the journey “easier and smarter.” Project Manager Deborah Ejemole explained that a new app-based system will track patient follow-ups and referrals, reducing the uncertainty that often leads to late-stage detection.

By integrating technology with human empathy, the initiative aims to provide a lifeline for women who might otherwise succumb to the disease simply because they didn’t know where to turn after their initial diagnosis.

Although patient navigation is already included in Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan (2026–2030), Chidebe urged hospital directors and policymakers to move beyond paper and start active implementation.

He emphasized that structured support can provide the psychosocial and financial guidance necessary to keep a patient on their treatment path.

As Olushola Akapo, a breast cancer survivor and life coach, noted, this intervention is about more than just clinical efficiency; it is a lifeline built on human connection, ensuring that no woman has to fight cancer alone.