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Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Speaking at First 2025 Cancer Planners Forum Ahead of World Health Assembly

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu/LinkedIn

May 23, 2025, 13:05

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu: Speaking at First 2025 Cancer Planners Forum Ahead of World Health Assembly

Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, UICC President-Elect of 2024-2026 and Founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), in collaboration with World Health Organization, IARC – International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Cancer Control Partnership (ICCP), recently convened the cancer planning officials under the First 2025 Cancer Planners Forum. This impactful event brought together over 100 participants, and advocates from more than 45 countries, to strengthen national cancer control strategies through shared learning, innovation, and collaboration.

I delivered a speech rooted in urgency, experience, and hope just days ahead of the World Health Assembly, where critical discussions will take place. I emphasized a crucial message: policy success must be followed by implementation success.

Among the most compelling sessions was the Artificial Intelligence (AI) presentation on the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) costing. With new tools developed by World Health Organization and Forecast Health countries can now make evidence-based decisions by accurately estimating the cost of delivering cancer care which are especially relevant for countries like Nigeria.

Another important item was the relaunch of the ICCP Portal, a powerful resource offering guidance, country plans, and global tools to support cancer control implementation. We also witnessed the launch of a book; Cancer Systems and Control for Health Professionals, edited by Meredith Giuliani, Mary Gospodarowicz, James D. Brierley, and Richard Sullivan. I encourage all planners and policymakers to explore and utilize the book as well as the platform.

From Nigeria, our National Cancer Program Coordinator, Dr Uche Nwachukwu Ph.D. shared encouraging progress. The 2023- 2027 NCCP is costed, and aligned with UHC. States such as Kebbi, Lagos, FCT, and Kaduna are developing contextualized plans. In addition, like many other CSOs, my MEDICAID CANCER FOUNDATION, has facilitated over 300,000 free cancer screenings, expanded HPV vaccination, and worked with traditional leaders to address misinformation. No doubt significant gaps we must address, remain.

My deepest gratitude goes to Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), World Health Organization, IARC – International Agency for Research on Cancer / World Health Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), ICCP, and all my colleagues, especially my revolving table members, for the insights shared. I was delighted to be added to the African Cancer Planners Whatsapp group almost immediately!

We have the knowledge, the tools, and the momentum. Now is the time to act fully and equitably.”

More posts featuring Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu.

African Cancer Planners AI artificial intelligence cancer Cancer Planners Forum Cancer Systems Control for Health Professionals FCT fight against cancer Forecast Health countries Global fight against cancer HPV Vaccination IAEA IARC ICCP International Agency for Research on Cancer International Atomic Energy Agency International Cancer Control Partnership James D. Brierley Kaduna Kebbi Lagos Mary Gospodarowicz Medicaid Cancer Foundation Meredith Giuliani National Cancer Control Plan National Cancer Program Coordinator NCCP Nigeria OncoDaily Oncology Richard Sullivan Uche Nwachukwu UICC Union for International Cancer Control WHO World Health Assembly. World Health Organization Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu

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