FG Earmarks N200m For Treatment Of Indigent Cancer Patients In 2024 — Alausa

The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, says N200 million has been earmarked for
the treatment of indigent cancer patients in the 2024 Appropriation Act (budget), contained in the Cancer Health Fund (CHF).
He disclosed this during a media conference to commemorate the 2024 World Cancer Day (WCD) in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that WCD is an international day marked on Feb. 4 to raise awareness
of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.
Between 2022 and 2024, the focus of the global observance was to help “Close the Cancer Gap” and the theme for 2024
is “Together, We Challenge Those In Power” as sub-theme.
This focuses on the global demand for leaders to prioritise and invest in cancer prevention and care, and to do more
to achieve a just and cancer-free world.
The minister, therefore, said Federal Government had put in N1.3 billion into the CHF in the last four years to enhance the treatment
of indigent patients.
He, however, added that though the fund would not be enough to do what needed to be done to take care of Nigerians; the ministry
was mobilising funds through a sectorwide approach and involving private sector participation.
Alausa said “that is not what we need to take care of the large burden of the disease that we face. We are working on mobilising
substantial amount of money from two various pathways.
“The Health Sector Renewal Initiative, the big focus of that is sectorwide approach. This will enable us mobilise funds and coordinate
current fragmentation we have in our healthcare system.
“We have the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which is one per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) but that is not enough to meet the healthcare needs of our vulnerable group and the people that need it the most.”