<h4> By Ibrahim Ramalan </h4>
Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu is a mother, wife, Paediatric Consultant, child’s right advocate and ardent anti-cancer campaigner. Born to Umaru and Rakiya Shinkafi , Zainab is a daughter of a seasoned police officer and the Marafa Sokoto, who rose to become the Director General of the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO) now better known as SSS. Dr Zainab Bagudu obtained a n M B B S ( Ba c h e l o r o f Medicine) from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, before proceeding to the United Kingdom for specialist training in Peadiatrics and Neonatology which lasted 9 years. Amongst others she obtained a Masters in Paediatrics, Diploma in tropical child health and membership of the Royal college of Paediatrics and Child health. In 2009, she set up a trail blazing diagnostic centre, Medicaid to rectify the paucity of scarce diagnostic tools in the northern region of the country. T h e c e n t re p r ov i d e s MRI, CT scan, Endoscopy, mammogram, Echocardiology, Digital Fluoroscopy etc. More so, in response to needs that were made more apparent by results from the diagnostic centre, the Medicaid Cancer foundation (MCF) was set up. Presently, the MCF has screened and sponsored over 100,000 free mammograms, alongside squarely creating a w a r e n e s s , p r e v e n t i o n , treatment and diagnosis of Cancers across the country. Also, the foundation has sponsored the treatment of over 300 cancer patients and over 10,000 screenings. Th is year, the Kebbi First Lady plans to mark the annual cancer day with a grand cancer awareness walk in the morning and football tournament in the evening, featuring professional footballers and entertainment celebrities in Abuja. A c c o r d i n g l y, H a j i y a (Dr.) Zainab has identified awareness creation through mass and interpersonal media, including Kannywood, as the fi rst and germane step towards eradicating breast/ cervical cancer scourges in the country. Za i n a b, t h ro u g h h e r foundation, said that as part of its lined up events to mark this year’s International Cancer Day, massive grassroots awareness creation would be embarked upon towards disabusing the minds of the people of all the detrimental beliefs against cancer screening and medication in both Kebbi and Abuja, including a novelty football match. “We are working with the religious and traditional bodies towards ensuring that everybody is carried along in promoting healthy lifestyle,” she pointed out while briefi ng journalists in Abuja. While bemoaning the lack of access to care among cancer patients in Nigeria, disclosed that as line-up also for this year’s Cancer day, MCF plans to train health workers from three North-West states of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara on cancer screening. The training is part of activities for the cancer awareness month themed ‘Kick and Walkway Cancer’ coming up in October. “Although globally there are breakthroughs in the fi ght against cancer, Nigerians do not easily access them due to resource constraints and lack of awareness,” she said. Mrs. Bagudu however added that in seven years since MCF’s founding, the organisation had “funded over 600 patients battling cancer”. Other activities lined up by the foundation to commemorate the world cancer awareness month, include a stakeholder’s forum on cancer control, and a 10-kilometre walk in Abuja. To further disseminate information on the cancer malaise and aid early detection, the foundation also plans to launch self-breast examination kit in Hausa.
