Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, CEO of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Senior Adviser at Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, shared on LinkedIn:
“Through the MEDICAID CANCER FOUNDATION, Walk Away Cancer is probably the oldest and biggest initiative we have created to bring people together in one space to talk openly about cancer, create awareness and help people make informed health choices.
I am deliberate about involving young people in all aspects of my advocacy. Because when young people are included on the right platforms, we create a generation of sustainable influencers.
This is why I threw my weight behind my daughter when she brought up the idea of a pop up event focused around her own passion- Matcha! Within a week, the Medicaid Summer Fair 1.0. featuring her ru.smatchacorner was designed and implemented. Along with other young people we featured the popslab, patendoyart, mi scents, la reedas, jaysb.istro, raw beauty africa, baken spice. It was heartwarming warming to see her take ownership of her idea and turn it into a small business.
We kept the first Summer Fair at a manageable size, that allowed me to interact with the young vendors, support their ideas and have proper conversations with them.
I want young people to see cancer advocacy as something they can be part of. They can learn the facts, speak to their peers, promote prevention and encourage informed health choices in their communities. Thus the fair also gave our girls in pink talk initiative a platform to share such tips. The Girls in Pink grooms and mentors young advocates, empowering them with the confidence, knowledge and support to become voices for cancer awareness.
We will make this Medicaid Fair a triennial event, held towards the end of holidays (Summer, December, and Easter). Hopefully, it will help us retain the attention of the teeming youngsters who support the walkawaycancer, whilst we work with them to develop a healthy lifestyle and hone their entrepreneurial mindset.”
Other posts featuring Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu on OncoDaily.
