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Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Empowering Women with Cancer – Bridging Inequalities and Offering Support

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu/LinkedIn

Apr 6, 2025, 05:44

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Empowering Women with Cancer – Bridging Inequalities and Offering Support

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, UICC President elect 2024-2026, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“March was a very impactful month for me as I refocused on Women’s Health and took deliberate steps to empower females with cancer.

Using women’s cancer as a yardstick for assessing women’s health is quite a task, because the statistics are abysmal. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), 72% of cancer patients are diagnosed at advanced stages (WHO). In Africa, fewer than 30% of cancer patients survive. Our work focuses on bridging inequalities by raising awareness in the population and supporting already diagnosed patients to access treatment.

Two programs we work hard to sustain are, one call away, which has run for 6 years and is designed to support patients through the challenges of cancer. Our PACE program on the other hand provides cheaper access to chemotherapy and diagnostic tests. During a visit to Kebbi in March, I met with 12 women battling cancer (mostly of the breast), to offer support via Medicaid Cancer Foundation, and enlighten them of others available via the Kebbi state government, and Nigerian Federal government access programs.

Open group therapy eases emotional trauma through shared experiences. During our session, one of the women broke down in tears because after 2 chemotherapy sessions, she was experiencing severe hair loss. As I tried to console her, a much older woman took off her scarf to show how her own hair had regrown. She was immediately uplifted. She didn’t have to take just my word for it.

In addition to supporting their treatment, we also supported the patients with food and comfort items. Grateful to all our partners who constantly make this possible. As leaders and caregivers, our task is to always appreciate the resilience and strength of these women amidst suffering. We must continue to empower, advocate, and declare that cancer is not a Death Sentence.”

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu