Inside one of the offices at the imposing two-storey Kano Cancer Treatment Centre (KCTC), elderly cancer patient Salma Ahmed sits quietly on a chair, her face lit with a warm smile.
For Salma, that smile represents relief, gratitude, and renewed hope after receiving free cancer treatment at the centre care that would normally cost hundreds of thousands of naira.
For many Nigerians familiar with the high cost of cancer care, the financial burden from diagnosis to remission can be overwhelming. Treatment often involves repeated diagnostic tests, chemotherapy sessions, medications, and long hospital visits expenses that many families struggle to afford.
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Although the Kano Cancer Treatment Centre already offers services at lower costs compared to many oncology centres across the country, the expenses associated with cancer care remain significant due to the high cost of maintaining specialised medical equipment and running such a facility.
To help ease this burden, the centre provided free treatment to approximately 10 cancer patients as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, in collaboration with its partners.
For beneficiaries like Salma Ahmed, the intervention has been life-changing.
Salma said her health struggles began more than two decades ago after an accident that left a scar on her body. Over the years, she tried various herbal remedies, but her condition persisted until doctors eventually diagnosed her with cancer.
“If I had the money, I would have completed my chemotherapy earlier,” she said.
She explained that before coming to the centre, she struggled to continue treatment due to financial constraints.
“I used to receive injections that made me vomit, and I was also given three drugs. Even getting the injection was difficult because we had to search everywhere before we could afford it,” she recalled.
Everything changed when she was selected as one of the beneficiaries of the free treatment programme at the centre.
“After submitting my test results, my daughter came here to ask if I could benefit from the free services. She was told the programme was temporarily on hold,” Salma said.
“Later, I received a phone call that completely changed my life. As you can see now, I am getting better. I have already undergone several sessions and I am expected to complete about 25 sessions.”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Salma offered prayers for the management and partners supporting the initiative.
“This opportunity has changed my life. I pray that Allah rewards them with Jannatul Firdaus. Only God can repay them for this kindness,” she said.
Salma’s story mirrors that of other beneficiaries receiving treatment at the centre.
Hauwa Muhammad said her health has improved significantly compared to a few months ago.
She explained that during her earlier chemotherapy sessions elsewhere, treatment was often delayed whenever she had a fever. At times she only received injections and blood transfusions instead of the full treatment she needed.
“When I first started coming to the centre, I usually arrived late,” she said with a smile. “But now I understand how the clinic operates and I am among the first to arrive on clinic days.”
After undergoing multiple treatment sessions, she reports feeling an improvement in her health.
“I came here about six months ago but had to go back because I could not afford the treatment,” Hauwa said.
“Fortunately, I later received a call that the centre would treat me free of charge. Alhamdulillah.”
She expressed appreciation to the management and staff of the centre for their compassion.
“Cancer treatment requires huge funds, and many people cannot afford it. I am grateful to the management and to Allah for this opportunity,” she added.
Another beneficiary, Daharatu Sani, said she first heard about the centre through a referral when free medical tests were being conducted.
At the time, she believed the tests were general medical screenings and later realised they were meant for cancer detection. Because she had already been diagnosed and undergone surgery at the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, she initially thought she would not qualify for further support.
However, she was later contacted and informed that she had been selected to benefit from the free treatment programme.
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Daharatu said the cost of treatment often discourages many cancer patients from visiting hospitals, pushing them instead toward herbal or traditional remedies that rarely solve the problem.
“I am now feeling better thanks to the treatment at KCTC,” she said.
“Even after my surgery, I still felt discomfort in my hand because the cancer had not completely gone.”
She said the care and hospitality shown by the doctors and staff make patients feel comfortable and supported.
“Whenever I come here, I feel like I am with my family because of the warm reception,” she said.
“I will remain grateful to the centre. May Allah bless the clinic.”
The cancer centre is named after Professor Hafsat Ganduje and was completed and commissioned in February 2023 by Muhammadu Buhari.
Located in Giginyu area of Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano State, the facility was established to expand access to specialised cancer diagnosis and treatment services in northern Nigeria.
For patients like Salma, Hauwa and Daharatu, however, the significance of the centre goes far beyond infrastructure.
It represents access to care, renewed hope, and the possibility of recovery for patients who might otherwise have abandoned treatment due to financial hardship.
As more patients complete their treatment sessions, the free cancer care initiative continues to highlight the life-saving impact of making critical health services accessible to those who need them most.
Speaking on the initiative, the chief executive officer KCTC Dr. Nafisa Abdu explained that the move is part of the centre’s commitment to improving the quality of life for vulnerable patients, particularly those battling advanced stages of cancer.
She noted that cancer cases are on the rise, expressing concern that in the near future, nearly every household could be affected if urgent interventions are not strengthened.
“At the cancer centre where I work, our responsibility is to treat cancer patients. For those whose cases are beyond cure most specially stage three and stage four we focus on managing the disease to improve their quality of life”
Radiotherapy, a critical treatment for many types of cancer, can cost over one million naira an amount far beyond the reach of many patients.
According to Dr. Nafisa, many beneficiaries had already lost hope due to financial constraints.
“Some of these patients had completely given up on treatment because they simply could not afford it”
She explained that the selection process was deliberately discreet to ensure that only genuinely needy patients benefitted.
“Our goal was not publicity but impact. We worked with our team to identify patients who had exhausted all options and truly had no means of support”
Dr. Nafisa expressed optimism that the initiative would become an annual programme, aimed specifically at assisting those most in need.
“Our focus is on indigent patients those who genuinely cannot afford treatment, not those who can pay but choose not to,” she emphasised.
Radiotherapy, also known as radiation therapy, remains one of the most effective treatments for certain cancers, offering both curative and palliative benefits.