Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: There are at least 108M displaced persons in the world, almost half are Africans

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu shared on LinkedIn:

“There are at least 108M displaced persons in the world, almost half are Africans. Armed conflicts pose additional logistical challenges for effective cancer control. Roadblocks, fighting, no cancer medication, destroying scarce cancer centers, and more, contribute to treatment delay. A delay of 4 weeks for treating breast cancer costs 10 more women their lives. Make it 12 weeks and we will lose an additional 31 women.

I have witnessed and had to work on the disenfranchisement of displaced persons we receive in Kebbi. Such lack of entitlement in an already weak health system that doesn’t offer even the “indigenes” insurance coverage for cancer is a major issue. As wars escalate in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, etc, we are witnessing a surge in the world’s stateless person population which today stands at 10M. They have no passports, no access to consular services, and cannot seek care outside the war zones.

The time has come to redefine National cancer control plans to include conflict situations. More attention needs to be placed on Mental health of cancer patients and care professionals.

Secondly, I agree that hunger, food and water are important when at war- but it must cease to be the main attention grabber. Humanitarian services and language by UN systems and iNGOs should also begin to speak about care for cancer patients in equitable terms as they do other issues.

Finally, we must certainly continue to encourage peaceful dialogue.

It was indeed a pleasant evening and an honor to share my perspective about the “therapeutic geographies of cancer in Africa” at the amazing Gordon’s Museum of Pathology at Guys Hospital yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk through and lecture from the curator, Prof Bill Edwards. It brought back nostalgic memories of learning human anatomy.
The evening was part of London Global Cancer Week organized by Prof Richard Sullivan. Other speakers were Ajay Aggarwal, Horia Vulpe and Marc Skelton.”

Source: Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu/LinkedIn

Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu is the First Lady of Kebbi State, a global cancer advocate, a pediatrician, a UICC Board Member, a Founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, and the Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), a coalition of the spouses of current and former state governors in Nigeria who are working to address gaps in the cancer continuum of care. In her role as the First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr Bagudu is working with the state ministries of health, education, and women affairs to implement programs to sustainably improve menstrual hygiene, girl-child education, economic empowerment of women, and put an end to gender-based violence. Her Excellency is a member of the Editorial Board of OncoDaily.