Bagudu Emerges World Ovarian Cancer Coalition First Global Ambassador

Kasim Sumaina in Abuja 

Wife of Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bugudu, Zainab Shinkafi, has emerged World Ovarian Cancer First Global Ambassador.

Shinkafi, a consultant Paediatrician and advocate for women’s health was announced by the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition as first global Ambassador to help close gaps in ovarian cancer

With a particular focus on cancer, she is often referred to as the mother of health in her native land, Nigeria. 

In her role as the First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu works with the state ministries of health, education, and women affairs to implement programmes to sustainably improve menstrual hygiene, girl-child education, and economic empowerment of women, and put an end to gender-based violence.

According to Clara MacKay, CEO of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition

“I believe that we must be our sisters’ keepers and that when we come together, great things can happen

“The need to make ovarian cancer a global priority is as urgent as ever. The gap between those who can access the best possible care and those who cannot is continuing to grow and will result in the tragic loss of millions more lives if we don’t take action now and if the status quo is maintained, by 2040 an estimated 4 million women will be lost to ovarian cancer.”

MacKay noted that the majority of women (70 per cent) with the disease live in low- and middle-income countries where access to basic medical care is severely limited by the lack of effective infrastructure, limited resources, geographic and cultural barriers. 

“While those in high-income countries often fare better overall, women often experience delays in diagnosis and there is vast variation in care resulting in inconsistent availability, access to, and usage of genetic testing, diagnostics, and the latest treatment options.”

Speaking further, MacKay said: “Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu, is an inspirational, passionate leader who shares our vision of a world where every woman with ovarian cancer has the best chance of survival and best quality of life possible wherever she may live. We are proud to partner with her to lead this call for action, inform the debate, and help educate women around the world about ovarian cancer.

“She will be key to helping to further the Coalition’s mission to empower the global ovarian cancer community through collaboration, knowledge, and action.”

Continuing, MacKay added that Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu will support the Coalition in its efforts to raise awareness of ovarian cancer, tackle low health literacy, and empower women across the world to take action to improve equitable access to high-quality, affordable care for ovarian cancer.

Shinkafi in her acceptance speech said: “Through my work at the Union for International Cancer Control, my own Medicaid Cancer Foundation and now as World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Ambassador, I hope to add to the global conversation in addressing the gaps in the continuum of care. 

“Only through collaboration between advocates, policymakers, and the private sector will we accelerate change,” said. 

The launch of the Ambassador Program comes just ahead of World Ovarian Cancer Day, a flagship awareness-raising initiative in which approximately 200 organisations from around the world raise their voices in solidarity in the fight against ovarian cancer.