PPB duties FG, stakeholders on implementation of most cancers affected person navigation providers
Mission PINK BLUE – Well being & Psychological Belief Centre has known as on the Federal Authorities of Nigeria, state governments, hospital management, and key stakeholders in most cancers care to implement affected person navigation providers throughout all most cancers centres within the nation.
This name comes as Mission PINK BLUE concludes the Girls Empowering Girls – Breast Most cancers Navigation & Expertise Programme (WEW-BCNaP) Affected person Navigation Coaching in Abuja, supported by AstraZeneca by the Powering Breast Most cancers Progress.
The founding father of the primary affected person navigation in Nigeria and govt director, Mission PINK BLUE, Runcie C.W. Chidebe, defined that the aim of the programme was to phase-out late detection of breast most cancers, enhance well timed entry to breast most cancers prognosis and remedy by empowering breast most cancers sufferers and retired nurses.
He stated the World Well being Group (2024), Nigeria recorded 32,278 new breast most cancers circumstances and 16,332 deaths in 2022 alone.
In accordance with him, the burden is especially extreme as extra youthful girls are recognized with breast most cancers in Nigeria, including that past the numbers, many ladies recognized with breast most cancers in Nigeria are sometimes left confused about what to do subsequent.
He stated from the purpose of prognosis, sufferers ceaselessly face a number of boundaries together with concern, stigma, poor understanding of medical data, {financial} boundaries, and issue navigating the healthcare system.
“For a lot of girls, these boundaries result in delayed remedy, missed appointments, loss to follow-up, and in some circumstances full abandonment of care.
“On this premise, affected person navigation programme helps be sure that most cancers sufferers are usually not left alone to determine the healthcare system by themselves.
“Affected person navigation supplies structured help to assist sufferers perceive their prognosis, entry the proper referrals, maintain appointments, stay on remedy, and obtain fundamental psychosocial and {financial} help all through their most cancers journey.
“Affected person navigation was included within the Nationwide Most cancers Management Plan (2026 – 2030), which is nice, nonetheless, the federal and state governments and chief medical administrators should now transfer past coverage and urgently implement affected person navigation throughout all most cancers centres in Nigeria. No most cancers affected person ought to die as a result of they have been misplaced within the well being system,” he stated.
Additionally, SPBON, Nationwide Hospital Abuja, Joachin-Ani Ann Nnenna stated the coaching has deepened my understanding of how crucial affected person navigation is in enhancing most cancers care outcomes.
She stated it has outfitted me with sensible instruments to help sufferers past medical remedy, particularly in addressing boundaries similar to concern, poor understanding, and loss to follow-up.
She stated the programme additionally integrates cellular expertise and app-based help programs to strengthen affected person follow-up, monitoring, communication, and referrals.
Additionally, Mission Supervisor, WEW-BcNaP, Mission PINK BLUE, Deborah N. Ejemole stated with technological developments just like the PINK BLUE App, weI really consider affected person navigation turns into simpler, smarter, and extra accessible.
“We see the PINK BLUE app because the Uber of oncology, a platform designed to attach sufferers seamlessly to the proper care pathways, assets, and help programs.
“For a lot of newly recognized sufferers, the largest problem is uncertainty: not realizing the place to go, who to talk to, or what the subsequent step needs to be. This app is designed to considerably cut back that uncertainty, enhance continuity of care, and be sure that no affected person feels misplaced of their most cancers journey.
Breast Most cancers Survivor, Most cancers Life Coach, and Co-chair WEW-BCNaP Steering committee, Olushola Akapo stated affected person navigation is not only a healthcare intervention system or a task, additionally a lifeline constructed on offered, empathy, and human connection.
She stated it’s not solely about what we do, however how we present up. “I’m extra grounded within the understanding that my presence, persistence, and empathy can turn into a lifeline for somebody navigating the concern and uncertainty of most cancers”.