Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, Senior Adviser at Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, shared on LinkedIn:
“The UICC World Cancer Congress 2026 in Hong Kong was filled with engaging sessions, strategic meetings and valuable interactions with cancer leaders, colleagues and partners from across the world.
My day started with different sessions featuring the Nigerian delegation, including Professor Folakemi Odedina and the Health Permanent Secretary, Kachollom Daju. Our First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) Nigeria Chair, Chioma Uzodimma keynote on the role of leadership in Nigeria’s cancer control.
In addition, I attended a closed-door meeting, improving Access to Breast Cancer Medicines, chaired by Vicki Durston. As a member of the African Breast Cancer Council, this session was quite useful, particularly for low- and middle-income countries where access to essential cancer medicines remains a major challenge.
Winding down the day, UICC board members interacted with candidates for the upcoming UICC elections.
I had a brief conversation with Todd Harper on hepatitis and liver cancer, discussing the importance of prevention, early detection and access to treatment.
The day concluded with the premiere of a documentary by Moonshine-Conquering Breast Cancer. Using personal stories of breast cancer survivors, we were taken through the highs and lows of navigating breast cancer in different income settings.
Day 2 engagements reinforced the importance of global partnerships, knowledge sharing and sustained collaboration in advancing cancer control.
My focus as an advocate will lay strongly on building stronger connections across regions, bringing diverse perspectives to the table and translating global commitments into practical action.”
Other articles about WCC2026 on OncoDaily.