Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Strengthening cancer control across Africa

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu shared a post on LinkedIn:

“STRENGTHENING CANCER CONTROL ACROSS AFRICA.

In Africa, the cancer burden is substantial and growing, with the continent experiencing the highest cancer mortality rates globally. An alarming 70% of cancer cases in Africa are diagnosed at late stages, exacerbating the challenge of effective treatment and control. Against this backdrop, the High-Level Seminar organized by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Organization of African First Ladies for Development, hosted by the First Lady of Nigeria, HE Senator Oluremi Tinubu, marked a significant step forward. This critical health issue was addressed by encouraging collaborations and partnerships between African member states of the OIC and credible cancer organizations globally.

The event was a remarkable success, both in terms of attendance and the quality of high-level stakeholders present. Esteemed participants included officials from Nigeria, other African nations, and global organizations, underscoring the international commitment to combating cancer in Africa. The presence of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mr. Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted the global community’s vested interest in bolstering cancer control efforts on the continent.

The panel sessions were educational and well-organized, providing a platform for robust discussions on the current state of cancer control in Nigeria and other African countries. The collaborative spirit among attendees was palpable, as experts from various fields shared insights and strategies to enhance cancer prevention, control, and treatment. I presented a paper on Effective methods of Community Engagement, where I restated our positive experience working with gatekeepers such as traditional and religious rulers. I stressed the importance of CSOs recording their work and keying in such data to relevant databases like cancer registries.

The First Lady’s speech emphasized the importance of promoting cancer awareness, advocacy, accessibility, and affordable cancer treatment. She also highlighted the need for partnerships with credible international organizations such as the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Aortic Center LUMC and the World Health Organization.

It was a busy week for us in the cancer space. Close on the heels of the First Ladies meeting, I was honored to attend another pivotal meeting as part of a 14-member team appointed by the Honourable Minister of State and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to work on the imPACT review of cancer control in Nigeria. The event was organized by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of Nigeria’s cancer control capabilities outlining strategic recommendations for improvement.

During the meeting stakeholders engaged in high-level discussions including but not limited to national strategic priorities, key stakeholders and access to them and sites for full in-country mission, high-level briefing on imPact review, etc.

I am always happy to be part of these conversations to improve cancer care and control, especially in low and middle-income countries.

The success of the week shows a collective political will and capacity from Africa and demonstrates our capability to host international meetings successfully. We must build on this foundation. We must institutionalize clinical trials, and research, and provide wider access to cancer screening and treatment.

My sincere congratulations to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, NICRAT DG Mr. Usman Aliyu, and their teams for a successful and exciting week of knowledge sharing and strategic planning.

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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.