TO help with cancer care and provide needed patient information on cancer, Project PINK BLUE – Health & Psychological Trust Centre, a community-based cancer non-governmental organization is launching a Breast Cancer Patient Navigation and toll-free Telephone Centre at 08000CANCER (08000226237).
In a press release, the organisation stated that, ‘in Nigeria, over 70% of cancer patients present late stages (III & IV) with few patients having access to the limited treatment facilities’.
See full text below.
Press Release
Public Launch of Nigeria’s first Breast Cancer Patient Navigation and Toll-free Telephone Centre 08000CANCER (08000226237)
Abuja, Nigeria – November 28, 2016 – Project PINK BLUE – Health & Psychological Trust Centre, a community-based cancer non-governmental organization in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Pfizer, U.S. Embassy in Nigeria and National Hospital Abuja host a one week training on Breast Cancer Navigation and Palliative Programme (BCNPP) for 32 nurses, breast cancer survivors and social workers as from 28thNov. – 1st Dec., 2016; after which the public launch (of Nigeria’s first Breast Cancer Patient Navigation and Toll-free Telephone Centre 08000CANCER) will take place on Friday 2nd Dec., 2016, 10:00am, at Trauma Centre of National Hospital Abuja.
Breast Cancer Navigation and Palliative Programme (BCNPP) is a cancer care programme with two interventions: Patient Navigation and Support to Women battling Metastatic/Advanced Breast Cancer. The programme is Nigeria’s first patient navigation. It is designed to educate nurses, cancer survivors, social workers and retired midwives across FCT to become Professional Patient Navigators who can navigate cancer patients through the barriers of cancer care, they can educate cancer patients, guide them and assist women battling with cancer with basic psychotherapy with the goal of alleviating their pains. The participants would also be trained to provide optimum Palliative Care to Women battling with Metastatic/Advanced Breast Cancer.
In Nigeria, over 70% of cancer patients present late stages (III & IV) with few patients having access to the limited treatment facilities. This is as a result of several barriers such as: financial barriers, communication and information barriers, medical system barriers, fear, distrust and emotional barriers. Several studies, including Harlem study in New York by Dr. Harold P. Freeman has proved that Patient Navigation programmes can help to eliminate these barriers to cancer care.
Runcie C.W. Chidebe, executive director of Project PINK BLUE, asserted, “more cancer patients are not knowledgeable of where to get care, what will happen next during their care and people to talk to or share their feeling with. Patient Navigator will guide and navigate patients through their journey. Together, we can help to improve early detection”.
BCNPP was launched on World Cancer Day 4th February 2015, and a Strategic Planning Meeting with 26 stakeholders was organized on March 24th, 2016 chaired by National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) of the Federal Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO). On March 30th 2016 a sensitization forum on navigation and palliative was organized for ninety-nine (99) nurses and retired midwives from the six (6) area councils of Abuja FCT.
For more information, email: info@projectpinkblue.org Call: 08168589720, www.projectpinkblue.org