The concerns were echoed by World Child Cancer, which drew attention to progress made in countries like Ghana and other African centres where structured systems and coordinated care are helping more children survive cancer.
Speaking on the issue, paediatric oncologist John Balogun stressed the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. According to him, effective paediatric oncology requires close collaboration among specialists, including surgeons, radiologists, and nurses, working together to deliver comprehensive care.
He explained that in better-performing healthcare systems, patient cases are reviewed collectively by teams that meet frequently to ensure decisions are tailored to each child’s needs. This culture of collaboration, he noted, is gradually being strengthened across parts of Africa through training initiatives supported by international partners.
Balogun called for increased investment in specialist training, describing it as critical for a country with Nigeria’s large population. He noted that expanding the number of trained paediatric oncologists and nurses would significantly improve care delivery and long-term outcomes.
Beyond clinical capacity, he highlighted the importance of social support systems, noting that in more effective centres, children undergoing treatment receive not just medical care but also emotional and educational support, including structured activities within hospital settings.
Late diagnosis remains a major challenge. Balogun estimated that about 75 percent of children with cancer in Nigeria present at advanced stages, often making treatment more difficult. Factors such as low awareness, financial constraints, and reliance on alternative care options contribute to delays in seeking proper medical attention.
According to Luke Thomas, approximately 40,000 children develop cancer annually in Nigeria, yet survival rates remain significantly lower than global benchmarks. While survival exceeds 80 percent in countries with well-developed healthcare systems, it is often below 30 percent in low- and middle-income settings.
Thomas attributed this gap to limited access to timely and specialised care, as many children are treated by general practitioners or overstretched specialists rather than trained paediatric oncologists.
He noted, however, that there are signs of progress. Nigerian doctors who have undergone specialised training abroad are returning to strengthen local healthcare services. Programmes supported by organisations such as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation are also helping to build capacity by sponsoring fellowships for emerging specialists.
Experts agree that improving survival rates will require sustained investment in workforce development, early diagnosis, and integrated care systems—steps they say are essential to closing the gap in childhood cancer outcomes across Nigeria.