Cancer Crisis: Oncologist Calls for Private Investment in Treatment Centres

Nigeria’s cancer treatment gap can be significantly reduced if wealthy individuals and corporate organisations invest in specialised treatment centres and critical equipment, a cancer specialist, Dr Omolola Salako, has said.

Salako, a Clinical and Radiation Oncologist, said private-sector investment was necessary to complement government efforts and expand access to life-saving cancer treatment across the country.

She spoke during a virtual training session of the 2026 Naija Cancer Watch Fellowship, a health journalism programme organised by Sebeccly Cancer Care to equip journalists with skills for accurate and evidence-based cancer reporting.

The fellowship, which runs from July 29 to September 8, focuses on tackling cancer misinformation, improving public understanding of the disease and promoting responsible health journalism.

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Salako said the limited number of radiotherapy centres remained a major obstacle to cancer treatment in Nigeria, with only about 18 states having such facilities.

She urged philanthropists and corporate organisations to consider investing in cancer centres, particularly in states where patients face difficulties accessing specialised treatment.

“Our corporate sector, many people can gift cancer centres with radiotherapy machines. To set up a radiotherapy centre, you need $15 million,” she said.

The oncologist said wealthy Nigerians could make significant contributions to cancer care without waiting for government intervention.

“Every millionaire or billionaire can set up a cancer centre in its state. We don’t have to wait for the government. We are not saying because you are a billionaire you must set it up, but we need to direct attention to where they can consider,” she said.

Salako said such investments could help reduce the distance cancer patients travel to access specialised care while easing pressure on existing facilities.

Beyond infrastructure, she identified stigma and misinformation as major challenges confronting cancer survivors, saying many patients remain silent about their experiences because of fear of rejection and discrimination.

“A lot of cancer survivors are silent. For every one survivor that we have at Sebeccly, there are a hundred more survivors that don’t want to share their stories,” Salako said.

She urged journalists reporting on cancer to be mindful of the emotional and psychological experiences of patients and survivors, particularly when conducting interviews.

“Apply the principle of empathy when interviewing persons living with cancer. Empathy means that you understand what they are passing through but you are not to absorb it,” she advised.

Salako also challenged the long-standing perception that a cancer diagnosis automatically means death, saying improved treatment and early detection were enabling more patients to survive the disease.

“Many people have heard that cancer is a death sentence and that is a false narrative because more people are surviving cancer,” she said.

She stressed that cancer is not contagious and called on the media to produce stories that encourage early detection, treatment and survivorship rather than reinforcing fear and stigma.

According to her, stronger reporting on cancer survivors could also help change public perceptions and encourage more patients to seek treatment without fear of discrimination.