Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Cervical cancer is the first cancer we can eliminate for good
Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, UICC President-Elect of 2024-2026, posted on LinkedIn:
“Cervical cancer is the first cancer we can eliminate for good – but are we on the right track? At Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)’s 2024 World Cancer Congress, I joined a session organized by TogetHER for Health, The Commonwealth and Roche to discuss the notion: ‘Have you noticed that we hear less and less about the elimination of cervical cancer and more about HPV vaccination as a standalone intervention?’
While the global focus on HPV vaccination has made remarkable progress—coverage rose from 16% in 2021 to 27% in 2023 – the same urgency has not been applied to screening and treatment.
In Africa, where over 70% of the global cervical cancer burden exists, this imbalance is more glaring. Retrospective data clearly shows that without equal attention to all three pillars – as stated in the WHO global cervical cancer elimination strategy—millions of women remain at risk of developing cervical cancer. Happily, Rwanda is taking the lead on the continent.
Following the roundtable, the policy paper released – ‘Strengthening the Pathway to Cervical Cancer Elimination’, which builds on this discussion by acknowledging cervical cancer as a global health priority, highlighting advances in prevention and treatment, endorsing a holistic approach, addressing access challenges, and exploring the potential of digital technology in cervical cancer programs. It also features case studies of innovative elimination strategies and offers actionable recommendations for policymakers. Honored to have contributed the Nigerian experience to this body of work.
This report is a vital step toward ensuring no woman dies from cervical cancer. I encourage you to read it here.”
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.
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