Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu
Breaking barriers through partnerships: Experiences from a first lady, health practitioner and Founder of a cancer body
Abridged bio:
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, is a Consultant Paediatrician and an advocate for women's health, with a particular focus on cancer.
An old girl of Queens college Lagos, Dr. Bagudu obtained her MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine) from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria then went on to specialize in Paediatrics and Neonatology in the United Kingdom.
She returned to public service in Nigeria, and was confronted with challenges in diagnostic reports for her patients. In response, she set up the first world class diagnostic center in Abuja-: Medicaid Radio-diagnostics Ltd in 2009; offering solutions such as Computed Tomography Scan (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Digital x-rays, Molecular laboratory etc. Slowly, she was inspired to start an NGO, the Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF).
MCF creates awareness on health matters, trains health workers, and funds the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients in Nigeria. Over the last five years, the foundation has raised over 120million naira for the treatment and support of cancer patients.
Dr. Bagudu is currently a member of the board of directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She is revered in the cancer space and contributes to national policy on cancer. Furthermore, she serves as a member of the National Cancer Control technical working group as well as the Cancer treatment fund. She is an active member and Trustee of FLAC-First Ladies Against Cancer.
As First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr. Bagudu channels her energy into initiatives that aim to improve livelihood across health, education and empowerment of women and children. She has special interests in gender based violence, drug abuse, maternal/Neonatal health, girl-child education and cancer. She is a long-time champion of women’s rights, and has advocated for gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout her career. Through her dogged advocacy leading other civil society organizations in Kebbi, the VAPP and Child's Right Acts are now before the state house of assembly for passage into law.
She serves as a Board member, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), an organization that responds to the high incidence of sexual assault, rape and human trafficking occurring amongst young girls and women across Nigeria.
She is also the patron of many organizations including Hilwa, Nigerian Olympic Society, Orphans and Huffaz and Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria. Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu is a keen writer and aside from scientific publications, contributes to topical conversations via op-eds published in national dailies.
Her Excellency has been distinguished with numerous national and international awards for her untiring work, such as the Silverbird man of the year 2017, contribution to women empowerment and children’s welfare by the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) and recently from UNICEF for her contributions to Girl child education and a special recognition award from Zenith Global Health, UK.
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