Founder Hajiya Hussaina Mohammed Yakubu says poverty, late diagnosis, stigma and poor access to treatment are driving preventable cancer deaths among vulnerable women.

Hassy's Haven Foundation is sounding the alarm on the devastating impact of cancer on indigent women in Nigeria, urging the Federal Government to prioritize cancer prevention, early detection, and affordable treatment programs. The call was made in Kaduna to mark the 2026 World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Hajiya Hussaina Mohammed Yakubu, highlighted the plight of vulnerable women who are dying from cancer not because the disease is untreatable, but due to poverty, late diagnosis, stigma, and lack of access to care. 

"Too many women are dying because they are poor, unheard, and unsupported. No woman should have to choose between feeding her children and accessing cancer care," she said.

Yakubu explained that Hassy's Haven Foundation was established in memory of her late twin sister, Hassana Yakubu, who battled cancer for eight years. 

The foundation provides emotional support, advocacy, awareness campaigns, and financial assistance to indigent female cancer patients, as well as widows and orphans affected by the disease.

The foundation is calling on state governments, private sector organizations, health institutions, and development partners to invest in early screening programs, subsidize treatment costs, and decentralize oncology services to rural and underserved communities. 

It also urges Nigerians to break the silence and stigma surrounding cancer, noting that early detection and community support significantly improve survival outcomes.

Hassy's Haven Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting indigent female cancer patients, widows, and children, while sustaining awareness and advocacy efforts. 

The foundation is seeking partnerships and support from the Federal and state governments, as well as relevant organizations, to expand its reach to more cancer patients.

World Cancer Day is observed globally to raise awareness and mobilize action to reduce preventable cancer deaths.