The Federal Government has launched the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) Fund for Cancer Patients Initiative, committing an initial ₦50 million to support vulnerable Nigerians undergoing cancer treatment with non-medical costs such as transportation, accommodation and feeding.
The initiative was formally unveiled in Abuja, where the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the intervention as a practical response to the social and economic barriers that often prevent patients from accessing or completing cancer treatment.
According to him, more than 600 cancer patients have already applied for support under the scheme, while over 200 verified beneficiaries will form the first batch to receive at least ₦100,000 each through direct disbursement.
He explained that the new fund is designed to complement existing government interventions, including the Cancer Health Fund, Cancer Access Partnership, Vulnerable Group Fund and the NCS Cancer Intervention Fund, by specifically addressing non-clinical challenges that affect treatment outcomes.
Salako noted that the initiative was developed based on recommendations from the National Cancer Control Plan Technical Working Group and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s broader commitment to improving access to affordable and quality healthcare across Nigeria.
He also reiterated the federal government’s target of reducing Nigeria’s cancer burden by 50 per cent by 2030 under the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, stressing that achieving this goal requires addressing both medical and socio-economic barriers to care.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, described the initiative as a shift from policy formulation to practical support that directly improves patients’ lives.
She commended the technical working group for designing a transparent verification process to ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable patients, while also calling on private sector organisations, development partners, philanthropists and professional bodies to contribute to the sustainability of the fund.
Kachollom said the initiative reflects the ministry’s mandate to reduce both the financial and physical burden of illness on Nigerians, adding that no patient should be denied treatment due to financial hardship.
The Social Determinants of Health Fund for Cancer Patients Initiative is expected to serve as a platform for broader resource mobilisation, bringing together government, private sector actors and development partners to strengthen social protection within Nigeria’s cancer care system.
