Dr Zainab Bagudu -Shinkafi former First Lady of Kebbi state receives Dicey Scroggins Distinguished Advocate Award.
Praise GOD
Dr Zainab Bagudu-Shinkafi former First Lady of Kebbi state has emerged as a recipient of the prestigious Dicey Scroggins Distinguished Advocate Award. She is the only recipient from Nigeria for the 2024 edition of the Award which will take place on October 15, in Dublin, Ireland.
The Award is named in honour of Mary Dicey Jackson Scroggins, founder of International Gynecologic Cancer Advocacy Network.
The award recognises Advocates and advocacy organisations that provide active,dedicated service to patients/ survivors, families and care givers, on a local, regional or international level and also persistently engage in the fight against gynecologic and other cancers.
Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu was selected for the award because of her advocacy and dedication in the fight against cancer. A Paediatrician by profession, she is a global expert in cancer care and Founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation.MCF.
Over the years the Foundation has grown into a significant provider of free access to cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment support.
Since 2008, the Foundation has increased awareness by over 25 percent.It has helped to reduce late stage cancer presentations and provided affordable treatment options.
Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu holds many leadership positions both locally and internationally. In Nigeria she serves as Senior Adviser on Women’s Health and Cancer to the Minister of Health. She co- Chairs the Nigerian Cervical Cancer Elimination task force. Three times she has been elected to the board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control. UICC.
Also she contributes to the advisory board of Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer, GIAHC, coalition to strengthen the HPV community.
She is a global Ambassador for World Ovarian Cancer.
Between 2015 and 2023 when she was the First Lady of Kebbi state, Dr Shinkafi- Bagudu facilitated patnership between WHO, CHAI, Medicaid and Kebbi state government to screen and treat about 40,000 women for Cervical cancer. She also facilitated free HPV vaccinations for school girls.
She advocated for introducing HPV vaccine in Nigeria. This was eventually achieved last year.
So far about 13 million Nigerian girls have received the vaccine.
Many friends, family members and well wishers have congratulated Dr Shinkafi- Bagudu on her well deserved award, you too should congratulate her….
Thank You Jesus