Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: It was an honor to be invited to Chinese Congress of Holistic Integrative Oncology

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu posted on LinkedIn:

“CHINA ANTI CANCER ASSOCIATION’S CONGRESS OF INTEGRATIVE ONCOLOGY 2023

It was an honor to be invited by my colleague, Prof Damien Faan, a renowned oncologist and serving army General, to participate in the 2023 Chinese Congress of Holistic Integrative Oncology, held in Tianjin from the 16th to the 19th of November, with the theme “Cancer Control, winning in integration”.

The congress convened over 40,000 oncologists, researchers, advocates in oncology and other allied professions from within China and 7 other continents. Over 300 parallel sessions with 40,000 participants held during which, research findings were presented with relevant recommendations.

CACA examined a “holistic integrative approach” to cancer control using – chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, alternative medicine and mental therapy. And thus has initiated an organization named “World Association for Integrative Oncology (WAIO) was established. I am delighted to announce Medicaid Cancer Foundation is “initiating member”.

It is my experience that patients from Nigeria, African and LMICs seek alternative traditional treatments (herbs, diets, faith-based etc) either before, or in conjunction with orthodox medicine. It is a function of culture, nurture, barriers to western medicine, development and to an extent, financial capacity. We are often approached to fund alternative treatments and immediately decline.

But one must ask, If the majority of our population are thus inclined, why do we refuse? Why don’t we examine, investigate and interrogate these treatment options. I think we owe this to our heritage.

Indeed as we have seen with the journey of China, in order to grow, one must introspect, and growth of positive traits. Then we can include foreign interventions. After many years of operating a closed system, experiencing exponential growth, China is now opening up to the world gradually. They do need to make more of an effort to integrate. It is impossible to exist in isolation, no matter how good their level of technology is. I see no reason why simple things like WhatsApp, Google, Uber and even some Visa cards are not available.

Nigeria enjoys a decent relationship with the people’s republic of China. Training programs across many sectors are constantly ongoing. Though not as many in health. We can leverage on this and connect institutions to design proper clinical trials that will give us the answers we need. Few drugs used to treat cancer have not been tested in black or African populations. Yet, it we rely on them and use our resources to purchase. Even in the face of this pharmacological inequity, LMICs have the least access to chemotherapeutic agents.

In line with my commitment to this cause, I will continue to align with all efforts that address barriers in Low-Middle Income Countries and foster collaboration across all borders.
–Dr ZSB”

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.