Project PINK BLUE, a cancer organization engaged in cancer awareness, free cancer screenings and support to people battling with cancer, has expressed it’s support for the nomination of Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu to join the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Board of Directors 2018- 2020.
UICC, is a global cancer umbrella organization founded in 1933 with over 1000 organizations in more than 160 countries uniting the world to reduce the global cancer burden, promotion of greater equity and integration of cancer control into global health. Members of this global platform include worlds major societies, ministries of health, patient groups, researchers and experts in cancer prevention and control. Every two years, the UICC elects Board of Directors who work to provide strategic direction to UICC.
“This year, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu emerged the only Nigerian and African from West Africa to be nominated for the prestigious UICC Board of Directors position. Her nomination is highly commendable and essential not only to Nigeria and West Africa, but to the entire Africa”, said Runcie C.W. Chidebe, Executive Director, Project PINK BLUE
Chidebe, noted that Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu, has been an enviable voice in cancer control in Nigeria, as the founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation and Medicaid Radiology, she has been engaged in cancer awareness, treatment support, radiological support, oncology education, cancer data and advocacy for cancer control in Africa for over a decade.
“Interestingly, she has been a cancer advocate before becoming the First Lady of Kebbi of State. Every year, Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu organizes and hosts cancer walks in Abuja, Nigerias capital and Kebbi state, a north-west part of Nigeria. She also raises millions of naira to support cancer patients and engages in high-level advocacy to get Nigerias government to make cancer care a national health priority.
“In 2017, she joined series of meetings including the CEAFON summit and National Health Dialogue to advocate for availability of radiotherapy services for cancer patients in Nigeria. To raise the profile of cancer registries and cancer data, she partnered with pathologists in Ghana and Nigeria to express the benefits of big data in cancer control and government investment to cancer care through her Medicaid Summit”, he remarked.
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has one of the worst state of cancer burden in the world, more Africans are dying of preventable cancer deaths, radiotherapy services are available in less than 50% of SSA, and the average out of pocket expenditure on health in SSA is 40-50% and in Nigeria is 96%.
Many chemotherapy drugs are too expensive for many Africans to affords, while so many of these drugs are not accessible in Africa. More cancer patients in Africa are dying in pain because of limited access to pain drugs and palliative care services. For example, cervical cancer is 99% preventable with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, however, this vaccine is so expensive for many people to afford because it is not enshrined in the national vaccine routine nor discounted; hence, Nigeria loses over 15,000 women to cervical cancer every year.
Chidebe further stressed thus, “Clearly, the inequity in cancer services is huge and require more intense advocacy at global, national and local levels, hence, I strongly believe that Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu has the capacity to galvanize, mobilize, organize and lead collaborations to reduce the burden of cancer in Africa if elected into the UICC board of directors.
“This is an opportunity for Nigeria and Africa, a cry for Africa to be on the table as the world discuss cancer control and prevention.
“I passionately appeal to delegates, ministers of health, patient’s advocates, researchers, CEOs of cancer societies and members of UICC to support and vote for Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu as a member of the board of directors of Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) at the World Cancer Congress taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1-4 October, 2018” he added.
