A U.S.-based Nigerian scholar, Abdulbasit Kassim, has announced an endowment fund to support cancer patients at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
In a statement sent to DAILY NIGERIAN, Mr Kassim said the inaugural endowment of two million naira (N2,000,000) was in honour of his primary care physician, Dr. Stacy Lee Ware.
According to him, Ms Ware, who was the former director of Rice University Student Health Services, died while managing and coping with cancer.
“Dr. Stacy Lee Ware joined Rice University Student Health Services in November 1998. She diagnosed many students with rare diseases in their early stages during her service at the university. She had a keen foresight in picking up on micro clues which significantly improved the prognoses of students.
“The cancer support fund commemorates the life of Dr. Ware for rallying support and showing exceptional care for students who were diagnosed with cancer at Rice University.
“The cancer support fund also honours the exceptional service of the oncologists, attending physicians, anesthesiologists, fellows, resident doctors, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurses, medical assistants, and caregivers who provide quality cancer care services to cancer patients,” Mr Kassim said.
On the basis for establishing the fund, the statement said, “The cancer support fund was established by a cancer survivor to support students in any discipline [STEM and non-STEM] who were diagnosed with cancer, requiring them to take time off their studies to receive cancer care services, especially cancer surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other medical services.
“This pilot initiative is limited to students receiving cancer treatments at my alma mater, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife. I plan to channel more resources to the cancer support fund and expand the coverage to support students receiving treatments at other university teaching hospitals in future cycles.
“To request the cancer support fund, please send an email to Abdulbasit Kassim at abdulbakarchive@gmail.com with the following details:
“Your name, course of study, and institution.
“The type and stage of your cancer diagnosis and the teaching hospital where you currently receive cancer care services [Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria or Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife].
“Provide the contact details of a referral at the teaching hospital (preferably an oncologist) who can verify your cancer diagnosis and treatment plan. I have communicated with some of the oncologists at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife, who would help with the verification.
“The cancer support fund does not promise to cover the total expenses of students receiving cancer treatments. I wish I could do more because this initiative is very dear to me. However, the information in the email will determine the amount of financial support that will be disbursed on a case-by-case basis.”
