Healthcare Access to Indigent Women in Nigeria

Christiana, 67 year-old female, was diagnosed with a right breast cancer. Christiana is from Umuonyiagwu, Egbema Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria

Christiana’s Son, Chidi reached out to ASA Women USA via email stating “I want to use medium to appreciate the assistance rendered to my mother through the enrollment in the just ended Anambra State health insurance scheme. Before its expirations, it helped to reduce our medical costs. We pray that God will continue to bless and reward you all in Jesus name. Amen”

According to Chidi, when his mother’s breast lump was discovered in 2005 at Emex Hospital, Nnewi, no action was taken, due to ignorance. She did not know the implications of the cancerous breast lump. Chidi stated that the day his mother was told about the cost of the Surgery, followed by Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy treatments, she cried and hid the cost from him, because he was still in school. She didn't want it to be a burden on him. Later in 2019, Chidi found out that his mother was always in constant pain. He saw her enlarged right breast the day she removed her clothes and he insisted that she must visit the hospital. His mother, Christiana cried because, according to her, she does not want the surgeon to cut off her right breast and also doesn’t know how they will bear the cost, but Chidi insisted and made inquiries. They visited Gabro Specialist Hospital, Nnewi, and that was when Christiana was officially diagnosed of breast cancer and her journey started. From the assistance of friends, Christiana was able to undergo Mastectomy surgery by the Breast Surgeon, Prof. Gabriel Chianakwana and completed the phases of her Chemotherapy. Christiana went to National Hospital, Abuja for her Radiotherapy treatment. Her Immunohistochemistry report in 2019 showed Hormone Receptors Positive with HER2 Neu Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma. She is on daily Letrozole 2.5 mg for her hormone dependent breast cancer.

Our Legacy Project on Healthcare Access to Indigent Women in Nigeria granted Christiana enrollment in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme for her primary healthcare needs in December 2021 and was renewed in December 2022. Thanks to your support, we were able to enroll over 70 (seventy) indigent women with cancer & other maternal health concerns in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme and have continued to provide financial support towards their hospital bills and medications upon approval.  

 ASA Women USA, Inc. is working towards the establishment of the proposed International Cancer Diagnostic & Research Center in the Pilot town –Amichi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Christiana is seeking for financial assistance towards her prophylactic breast cancer drug. ASA Women USA will be stepping up to support Christiana’s continued treatment, and we would love to do more. Christiana and her son have expressed their appreciation and impact of these extraordinary support by ASA Women USA Cancer Coalition Team.

 ASA Women USA, Inc. strengthens the healthcare of indigent women with Cancer and other Maternal Health concerns in Anambra State, Nigeria one woman at a time.

 Mark Your Calendars for upcoming 5K Walk/RUN for Hope & Fight to End Cancer on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Glenn Dale Community Center, 11901 Glenn Dale Blvd, Glenn Dale, MD 20769 at 8:30 am. 

 EARLY BIRD: When you donate from April 3 - 7, @GlobalGiving will match your generosity by 50% *(double impact). Please consider becoming a Sponsor.  5K Walk T-shirts will be available on WALK DAY. Together We Can Beat Cancer and Save Lives 

 Sign up to Walk/Run @ 301 520 3859 and asawomen_usa@yahoo.com

 Donate /register to Walk/Run @https://goto.gg/f/40709

 https://asawomenusa.org/events/2023-asa-women-usa-5k-walk-for-hope-fight-to-end-cancer-saturday-may-6-2023/

Links:

• ASA Women USA Project Event Link Page

Links:

• Register to Walk/Run @
• Project link @

Links:

• ASA Women USA Project Event Link Page

Every day, we’re moved by your generosity. Words cannot express how much your compassionate support means to us at  ASA Women USA, Inc. Cancer Coalition, but from the bottom of our hearts, we say THANK YOU!

Two years ago, amid Covid-19 pandemic, you became part of a global movement of generous donors that joined together to empower our Covid-19 Support Fund in April 2020 and launched our Health insurance for indigent women through our online #GlovalGiving campaigns for the Project on Healthcare Access to Indigent Women. Now we are poised to build an International Cancer Centre in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Together, you helped raise over $50,000.00 (Fifty Thousand Dollars) from 2020 thru 2021. You have proven that Together We Can Do It! We can improve the lives of indigent women with Cancer and Maternal Health Concerns. 

Your compassionate generosity allowed us to adopt and enroll 70 (Seventy) indigent Anambra women from 38 communities with Cancer & Maternal Health Issues in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme for a minimum of five years and establish an ongoing Partnership with Diocesan Hospital, Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area, Anambra State to remodel and renovate the existing wing of the hospital and get the International Cancer Centre running within the next five years.

 ASA Women USA engages in fundraising activities through GlobalGiving Campaigns; Launch Programs, Grants; 5K Walk/ Run for Hope & Fight to End Cancer. Funds raised are earmarked as follows: 65% of Funds raised will go towards the establishment of the International Cancer Centre; while 35% of funds will enroll more Anambra Women with cancer & maternal health issues in the yearly Anambra State health insurance scheme.  

Provision of health insurance assures a sustainable and cost-effective means to access quality and affordable basic health services from the State’s accredited public, mission and, private hospitals across Anambra State, Nigeria; cancer awareness; provide education and advocacy.

Consistent with ASA Women USA mission and legacy project, the organization is seeking more Philanthropic Partners, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) funding and, Grants for the establishment of the International Cancer Centre in Anambra State, Nigeria. We appreciate your continued generous support of our mission with your tax-deductible donations. We pray that God will replenish your pockets a hundred times over. Thank you for spreading the joy of giving. 

ASA Women USA 2020/2021 Cancer Coalition’s Community Adoption Project Partnership Program (CAPPP) initiatives aim to engage members of our various communities in supporting our project on strengthening health systems through Availability and Accessibility of healthcare to indigent women with cancer and maternal health issues in Anambra State, Nigeria. CAPPP components includes, but not limited to(1) Yearly Health Insurance Premium Coverage for a minimum of 5 years. (2.) Expansion of a Community’s Health Centre– To challenge the healthcare issues based on 65: 35 ratio by: the expansion of a community’s health Centre into the International Cancer Diagnostic & Research Centre in Anambra State-Nigeria and provide the health insurance premium coverage to indigent women with cancer and maternal health issues in Anambra State-Nigeria, provide cancer advocacy, awareness and education          

No words can fully express our gratitude—but, from the bottom of our hearts: thank you. Since 2020, when the pandemic began, you became part of a global movement of generosity, joining so many donors & together in support of our Covid-19 Support Fund in April 2020, donation to NAPPSA 5K Run/Walk for Charity Cares in September 2021 and our ongoing legacy Project on Healthcare Access to Indigent Members in Nigeria Campaigns @ GlobalGiving and for making an impact. Together, you helped raise over 50% of our initial project funding goal of $50,000

The identified participating communities for the health insurance premium coverage based on 35% of raised funds are Amichi, Umuchukwu, Nise, Nnewi, Agukwu-Nri, Ufuma, Onitsha, Awka, Ukpor, Agulu, Umuoji, Ogbaru, Oraukwu, and Nanka towns in Anambra State. A total of 56 (fifty-six) indigent members with cancer and maternal health issues of the above communities will be enrolled in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme on December 30^th, 2021.  

The 65% of the total funds raised will support the International Cancer Diagnostic & Research Centre in Anambra State. We are happy to announce that ASA Women USA, in collaboration with her Global Partners appreciated the accepted joint partnership with the Management Board of the Diocesan Hospital, Amichi in actualizing the proposed International Cancer Diagnostic & Research Centre within the existing wing of the hospital. This is in line with our legacy project to provide the accessible, quality and affordable healthcare to the indigent members in Anambra State and the Nation at Large.  

This legacy project will involve the financing, and remodeling of a wing of Diocesan Hospital Amichi, which will house the International Cancer Diagnostic & Research Center. The Centre shall include but not be limited to: a reception center; nursing stations; CT Scan, Ultrasound, MRI, and X-Ray; Radiotherapy and Mammography; Laboratory, Examination and consultation rooms, Operating suit and recovery room; Treatment Room, Provider Work Room and Research Area. The management of the International Cancer Diagnostic & Research Centre will be vested in a fully incorporated Board of Directors made up of representatives of ASA Women USA and Diocesan Hospital Management Board. The operations, policy formulation, staffing of the Centre as well as relationship with Governments etc., will be the responsibility of the Board. ASA Women USA has engaged a building consultant that will take physical measurements of the facility and come up with an as-built-design. The location of the buildings favor a separate entrance from the entire hospital.

We will be sending you regular reports about our work. This will keep you informed about all our accomplishments and show you how your generous donation was used. Please do not make it a one-time donation, continue to donate generously as God would replenish your purse a hundred times over.

Mark your calendars for upcoming #GivingTuesday campaign, on Tuesday, November 30^th, 2021 @GlobalGiving. Together we can make a great difference: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/healthcare-access-to-indigent-women-in-nigeria/