Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, the President-Elect of UICC for 2024-2026 and the CEO of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, recently shared her insights on LinkedIn about her experiences at the World Health Assembly.
She emphasized the importance of cancer control, women’s health, and health equity in boosting economic productivity. Her aim is to create fair healthcare paths that remove barriers for women, ultimately strengthening communities.
Alongside pharmacist Aisha Mohammed, Zainab participated in significant discussions at the UICC Cancer Planners Forum. They focused on addressing research gaps and improving clinical access, in preparation for the upcoming World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong.
One of the highlights of her week was moderating a side event celebrating five years of the Global Breast Cancer Initiative. This event invited key organizations like the UICC, WHO, and health ministries from Botswana, Egypt, and Indonesia. They shared progress towards achieving ambitious breast cancer survival goals through better data collection and treatment access.
Zainab also engaged in discussions at the World Economic Forum, where she highlighted the unique challenges women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face. There is a pressing need for collaboration across different sectors to fund innovations that can help bridge these gaps.
Additionally, the launch of OncoCorridor, a humanitarian platform co-founded by Gevorg Tamamyan, aimed to connect cancer patients in conflict zones with treatment centers worldwide. Zainab talked about the efforts made in Nigeria through the National Cancer Control Plan, led by experts like Prof. Folakemi Odedina and Prof. Usman Aliyu.
Zainab expressed gratitude for the collaboration with partners and advocates working to enhance global health systems. This week was a busy but rewarding experience, filled with valuable discussions and networking opportunities.
If you’re interested in more insights, you can watch the video here.
For additional perspectives on global health challenges, check out resources from the World Health Organization.
