Nigeria’s First Cancer Treatment Fund, the Pink Oak Cancer Trust has launched the #DonateToBeatCancer campaign to raise N200 million and sponsor the treatment of at least 50 cancer patients in 2018. The fundraising campaign which was launched in Abuja on April 20, 2018 targets individual and corporate donors who want to help reduce or remove financial burden on patients with cancer in Nigeria.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Dr. Laz Ude Eze, told over 40 early donors who attended the launch that the campaign is a short to medium term measure to increasing access to cancer care in Nigeria. While calling on well-meaning individuals and organisations to donate to Pink Oak, he charged the Federal Government to accelerate efforts to ensure mandatory health insurance for all Nigerians.
Before unveiling the symbol of the campaign, a cancer survivor and the President of the Abuja Breast Cancer Support Group, Gloria Orji recounted her experience while she was treating cancer. She identified funding constraints as a major factor responsible for the high cancer-related deaths in Nigeria.
In his remarks, an Ambassador of the Campaign and Ex-Housemate of Big Brother Naija 3, Bitto Bryan said he believes in the cause because no Nigerian should be allowed to die from a preventable or treatable disease. He encouraged the people to adopt healthy lifestyles and also donate regularly to help cancer patients in need of support.
The launch was attended by individual donors, representatives of NGOs, pharmaceutical companies and media organisations. A high point of the event was the birthday celebration by the Pink Oak boss, Dr. Eze.
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