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Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Key to advancing health and cancer control in Africa and the commonwealth

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu/LinkedIn

Dec 16, 2024, 12:12

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Key to advancing health and cancer control in Africa and the commonwealth

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, UICC President-Elect of 2024-2026, shared on LinkedIn:

Last week, I engaged two important African personalities key to advancing health and cancer control in Africa and the commonwealth.

My conversations with Excellencies, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC and Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghanaian Foreign Minister and Incoming Commonwealth Secretary-General were very inspiring.

Africa CDC continues to play a critical role in strengthening health systems and advancing health security across the continent.

My husband and I heartily congratulate the incoming SG on her recent election. The Commonwealth is instrumental in promoting cross sector partnerships to improve healthcare access and equity across member states. As a commissioner on The Lancet commision on cancer in the Commonwealth, I was keen to explore how she can support our collective efforts and vice versa.

Collaboration remains essential in addressing the deep-rooted health inequities in Africa and the Commonwealth, and I am confident that, with their proven records, we can achieve meaningful progress for all.

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Key to advancing health and cancer control in Africa and the commonwealth

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu is a global cancer advocate, a pediatrician, UICC President-Elect of 2024-2026, a UICC Board Member, a Founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, and the Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC). Dr. Bagudu is working with the state ministries of health, education, and women’s affairs to implement programs to sustainably improve menstrual hygiene, girl-child education, economic empowerment of women, and put an end to gender-based violence. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu is a member of the Editorial Board of OncoDaily.