Physical Health Nigeria Project #47430

Healthcare Access to Indigent Women in Nigeria

by Anambra State Association Women in USA, Inc

Healthcare Access to Indigent Women in Nigeria

Project Report | Jan 23, 2023
Son Appeals to ASA Women USA for Mother's Cancer

By Anthonia Uche Umeh | Project Leader

Christiana, Breast Cancer Survivor and Son, Chidi

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

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/

Christiana, Breast Cancer Survivor

ASA Women USA Health Insurance Adoptees

Links:

ASA Women USA Project Event Link Page

Permalink

Sep 23, 2022
ASA WOMEN USA IMPACTING ON THE GRASSROOTS WOMEN

By Anthonia Uche Umeh | Project Leader

Health Insurance card to our Adoptee

Ebele, 46 years old female, was diagnosed in 2021 with breast cancer. Ebele is from Umuonyiba Ufuma Community, Orumba North LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria

Ebele reached out to ASA Women USA through one of our executive members from Ufuma for assistance with her care due to financial constraints in August 2022.

According to Ebele, the problem started around December 2020 when she noticed a small mass in her Right Breast. She informed her sister in the city of Lagos, who invited her over in Lagos. Ebele was evaluated in April 2021 at Lagos State Teaching Hospital, Ikeja and several investigations were carried out, including Screening Mammogram, Chest CT, HIV, Breast Biopsy and other tests. Ebele was diagnosed with Right Breast Cancer by the Surgeon at the hospital and was told that she needed further treatment and surgery. Ebele traveled back to her hometown at Ufuma and after some months of no treatment, she noticed that her nipple at the right side was retracting inside. Due to lack of funds for treatment, she started taking some local herbs like green tea and soursop till date.

Our project granted Ebele enrollment in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme for her primary healthcare needs in September 2022. Thanks to your support, we were able to enroll over 70 (seventy) indigent women with cancer & other maternal health concerns in the health insurance scheme and paid the hospital bills of admitted cancer patients. ASA Women USA, Inc. is working towards the establishment of the proposed International Comprehensive Cancer Center in Anambra State, Nigeria

Ebele is seeking for financial assistance to start treatment. ASA Women USA will be providing some financial assistance with her medical expenses, and we would love to do more. Ebele has expressed her 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, October 8, 2022, at Glenn Dale Community Center, 11901 Glenn Dale Blvd, Glenn Dale, MD 20769 at 8:30 am. Please consider becoming a Sponsor. Together We Can Beat Cancer and Save Lives

Or https://goto.gg/47430

Visit us @ http://www.asawomenusa.org

When our project is fully funded, the ASA Women USA, Inc. will support the strengthening of healthcare systems through the State's Health Insurance Scheme for a sustainable and cost-effective means to accessing quality and affordable health services from the State's accredited public, mission and private hospitals across Anambra State, Nigeria and support the establishment of the proposed International Comprehensive Cancer Center in Anambra State, Nigeria for long term economic impact

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. I hope you enjoy learning about our work and continue to stay engaged with our team.

Links:

Permalink

May 27, 2022
Saving Lives: One Woman At A Time

By Anthonia Uche Umeh | Project Leader

ASA Women USA Founder/ President with Ngozi

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. Ngozi, 57 years old female, was diagnosed in 2018 with breast cancer. Ngozi is from Awor Ezimuzor, Ezinifite in Nnewi South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria

ASA Women USA, Inc. assisted with her hospital bills after her Mastectomy surgery for Breast Cancer at Whitechapel Specialist Hospital, Onitsha. She came back to visit us during the last Medical Mission in 2018 and was very thankful and grateful. She was re-examined by our breast surgeon.

Ngozi was one of the 70 (seventy) Anambra Women from 38 communities with Cancer and other Maternal Health concerns that was adopted by ASA Women USA and enrolled in the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme (ASHIA) in December 2021 and February 2022.

Ngozi was recently admitted in the hospital in May 2022 with diagnosis of pulmonary metastatic+ pleural effusion and her daughter, Ogechi, contacted ASA Women USA, Inc. requesting for help. According to Ogechi, her mother has her health insurance card but was not receiving treatment in the hospital where she registered because they didn’t have the facility and manpower to manage cancer of the lungs. Ngozi’s registration under ASHIA was at Visitation hospital Osumenyi, but currently receiving treatment at Immaculate Heart Hospital and Maternity, Okwuani, Nnewi, which is ASHIA provider.

ASA Women USA, Inc. Headquartered in Maryland, USA advocated on behalf of the patient by contacting the management of Anambra State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA), who stated that She should have first gone to her primary care at Visitation hospital, then take a referral to Immaculate heart and Maternity, Okwuani, Nnewi. ASHIA Management further stated that since they have started treatment without ASHIA preauthorization it was a difficult situation. ASHIA pledged to assist by cost sharing.

Ngozi was discharged from the hospital on May 22, 2022, with a bill of N450,000 (four hundred and fifty thousand Naira) and she will be taking chemotherapy worth N160,000 (one hundred and sixty thousand Naira) every month for about 5 months, then she will be transitioned to the oral pill. ASHIA assisted Ngozi’s hospital bill with N50,000 (Fifty thousand Naira). ASHIA notified Ngozi’s family that the health insurance didn’t cover the cancer drugs because they were too expensive. The family is now seeking for financial assistance to offset the Hospital Bill and monthly chemotherapy. ASA Women USA is providing financial assistance with her medical expenses, but MORE HELP IS NEEDED. Her family has expressed their appreciation and impact of these extraordinary support by ASA Women USA Cancer Coalition Team.

*Mark Your Calendars for upcoming Bonus Day Campaign on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 @GlobalGiving* Together we can make a great difference.

Donate @ https://goto.gg/47430

When our project is fully funded, the ASA Women USA, Inc. will support the strengthening of healthcare systems through the State's Health Insurance Scheme for a sustainable and cost-effective means to accessing quality and affordable health services from the State's accredited public, mission and private hospitals across Anambra State, Nigeria and the establishment of the proposed International Comprehensive Cancer Center in Anambra State, Nigeria for long term economic impact

Breast Surgery

Receiving Health Insurance from ASA Women USA

Links:

ASA Women USA Project Event Link Page

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.