PROFILE
Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu
+234 806 688 6688|| zuas@aol.com
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, is a Consultant Paediatrician and an advocate for women's health, with a particular focus on cancer. Dr. Bagudu obtained her Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) degree from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (Zaria, Nigeria) and then proceeded to specialize in Paediatrics and Neonatology in the United Kingdom. She returned to work as a clinician in Nigeria and was confronted with challenges clinicians and patients faced with accessing quality medical diagnostic services in Northern Nigeria.
In response, she founded the first comprehensive medical diagnostics centre in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja): Medicaid Radio-Diagnostics & Clinics in 2009; offering services previously unavailable through the private sector such as Computed Tomography Scan (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Digital x-rays, Molecular Laboratory tests, etc. Her experience in public and private health service settings revealed the paucity of cancer care services in Nigeria and the growing number of persons diagnosed with the catastrophic disease. Her decision to help change this narrative gave rise to Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF), a platform that is committed to increasing cancer awareness and promoting the adoption of preventive healthy lifestyle, healthcare worker capacity building, and easing access to diagnostic and treatment services. We have worked with partners to raise over 2 million US Dollars to address gaps in the quality of cancer care in Nigeria.
Dr. Bagudu is passionate about bringing attention to the inequalities of cancer care in the global south and convinced that accelerating improvements requires synergy between policymakers, the private sector, and advocates. She currently serves on the board of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) towards this objective. She is also the Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), a coalition of the spouses of current and former state governors in Nigeria who are working to address gaps in the cancer continuum of care. The are advocating for the adoption and full implementation of Universal Health Coverage by all levels of government in Nigeria as critical pathway to accelerating access to quality healthcare services. She currently serves as a Global Ambassador for World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
In her role as the First Lady of Kebbi State (2015-2023), Dr Bagudu worked with the state ministries of health, education, and women affairs to implement programmes to sustainably improve menstrual hygiene, girl-child education, economic empowerment of women, and put an end to gender-based violence.

Present Positions
-Consultant Pediatrician -Founder/CEO,
Medicaid Cancer
Foundation (MCF) -MD/CEO, Medicaid
Radio-diagnostics &
Clinics (MRD) -Chairperson, First Ladies
Against Cancer (FLAC) -Member, Board of Directors
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
Skills:
Leadership Mentorship Teaching Management Fundraising
Communication Skills:
Public Speaking Presentation/Facilitation Conferencing
Reporting
Technical Writing Information Management
Industry Related
Government
Medical services Non-profits
Cancer treatment organization
Project Management Fundraising
Campaign Management Performance Measurement Operations Management Process Management
Competencies
Leadership
Policy and Advocacy
Knowledge Management
Team Building Emotional Intelligence Research
Innovation
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Insurance Coverage for Cancer Care in Nigeria: I worked with the Nigeria’s Federal Government to provide financial access to over 10,000 indigent cancer patients in Nigeria. I hope to expand this experience to other African countries and LMICs. Inequity in Global Cancer Control Investment: I work with AORTIC, African government and other global partners on closing the gap in global funding for cancer control in LMICs.
Elimination of Cervical Cancer Global Strategy: Via High level advocacy, I brought together the Nigerian Government, UICC and WHO to include Nigeria in the initial Call to action and subsequent global strategy to ensure that the global inequity in access to cervical cancer care is closed. Over 15 LMICs would benefit from this ongoing advocacy.
Raising the Voice of Women in Oncology: I have campaigned for more mentorship and engagement of STEM, women in oncology, including in clinical trials.
CSOs Against Cervical Cancer (CCACC): I co-founded this coalition to bring CSOs together to lead national advocacy for access, affordability, and acceptability of HPV vaccine. Over 60 million Nigerian girls are targeted to benefit from this initiative.
A chemotherapy drug access program with national coverage: Through the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, I oversee partnerships with Roche, Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, Sanofi and AstraZeneca that now guarantees access to select high value therapeutics from these manufactures at averagely about 55% of retail price.
African Cancer CEO Forum: Medicaid Cancer Foundation in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health (Nigeria) and the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS) hosts the African Cancer CEO's Forum to work out approaches to collectively advance access to cancer care across the continent considering experiences in the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic in September 2020. This forum brought together organizations from 25 countries to jointly lobby for improved standards of care.
Conceptualized the establishment of Kebbi State-Nigeria’s Cancer Control plan and the Cancer Registry.
Championed the coalition First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC)
Successfully advocated for the inclusion of HPV Vaccine into the Nigeria Routine Immunization.
Successful advocacy campaign to domesticate the VAPP Act and Childs Right Act in Kebbi State.
Initiated programs with implementing partners like Break Through Action, Nigeria Health Watch, Procter & Gamble to increase the practice of priority health behaviors in the area of malaria, maternal, newborn and child health, nutrition, (MNCH + N) and reproductive health.
Partnership engagement on “Always Keeping Girls in School” with Procter & Gamble in distribution of sanitary items and provision of WASH facilities to improve girl child education. And led advocacy campaign to remove VAT on sanitary towels and boost local production.
High-level advocacy with the Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative, GAVI, to step up cervical cancer vaccination for Nigerian girls from age 9.

EXPERIENCE
Referees
Dr O Oshinowo
Premier Specialist Medical Centre,
+2341683733
Dr Ibrahim Wada
Medical Director, Garki Hospital, +2348033119218, +23492349221
Prof B Brabin
Liverpool School of Tropical diseases Liverpool, teach@liverpool.ac.uk
Prof Michel Coleman
London School Of Hygiene Tropical Medicine michel.coleman@lshtm.ac.uk
Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF), Abuja, Nigeria (2009 – to present)
Chief Executive Officer
Founded as a volunteer driven cancer awareness non-profit, instituting a mainstay on the national awareness calendar: WalkAwayCancer.
Leads a team of cancer advocates who have gone on to establish a patient access to care program that has secured over $1,000,000 in funding to aid access to therapy and diagnostic services.
Medicaid Radio-Diagnostics & Clinics (MRD), Abuja, Nigeria (2008 – to present)
Medical Director/CEO
Premier medical diagnostic facility the Federal Capital Territory and operates in 5 other Nigerian states.
Lead a multi-disciplinary team that provides an extensive list of medical diagnostic services, transforming operations from a team of 7 persons at inception to a national organization with more than 150 full time employees.
Provide high end diagnostic solutions such as MRI, CT scan and a Molecular Laboratory.
Garki Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria (2007 – 2009)
Consultant, Head of Department
Setup and headed the Paediatric Unit of Garki Hospital under a pioneering Public Private Partnership (PPP) scheme with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Lead paediatrician with special focus on neonatology.
Member of Clinical Governance team at the hospital.
Ealing Hospital, Uxbridge, United Kingdom (2004 – 2005)
Consultant
Busy DGH with wide variety of unusual diseases due to multi-ethnicity of population. Level 1 Neonatal Unit.
Supervision of registrars.
AWARDS & HONOURS
2023 Global Health Catalyst Distinguished Leader Award (Africa) Global Ambassador, World Ovarian Cancer Coalition
Member, WHO’S Global Breast Cancer Initiative (TWG) Member, National cancer control committee, Nigeria
Member, Cancer Health Fund, Nigeria High Level Women Advocates 2023
London Political Summit & Award 2021
Ambassador of Women’s Rights awards by LACVAW 2013
Certificate of Congressional Recognition by United States Congress 2015 Silverbird Man of the Year award for Special Achievements 2016
Immense contribution to the improvement of Cancer Care in Nigeria by CEAFON Outstanding contribution to Breast Cancer Advocacy and control in Nigeria
Award for Exemplary contribution to health in Abuja by Guild of Medical Directors 2015
Meritorious award for contribution towards women empowerment and children’s welfare by NCWS.
Merit award in recognition of outstanding contribution to development of Healthcare
Delivery system in Kebbi State by Nigerian Medical Association (Kebbi Chapter)
Patron, UNICEF High level women advocate program in Kebbi state for girl child education.

Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
Member, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Member, African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) Member, Society for Pediatric Oncology (SIOP)
Fellow, African Institute of Public Health.
Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (Registration No FM23 400)
Member, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine
Royal College of Pediatrics and Child health
Member, Medical Women Association of Nigeria
Member, Pediatric Association of Nigeria
Member, Nigeria Medical Association
Member, Guild of Medical Directors
LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Mentor, Cherie Blair Foundation
Mentor, the Nigerian You-Win project,
Ambassador, Civil Society for Nutrition,
Patron, Fistula Care Nigeria,
Member, International Cancer Week
Patron, Nigerian Olympic Society.
Member, Ministerial Committee to build world-class diagnostic centers in 6 geopolitical
zones of Nigeria
Member, Steering Committee, Catastrophic Health Fund
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION
PALS Provider (2002)
MRCPCH October (2001)
Diploma in Tropical Child Health, Liverpool (2000) Masters of Tropical Paediatrics, Liverpool (1999) DTM&H, London (1996)
MB; BS, ABU, Zaria (1994)
INTERESTS
Policy Formation in Paediatrics | Cancer Advocacy | Education | Special needs and vulnerable children | Community service
PUBLICATIONS
Cancer control funding in Nigeria: A case for universal health coverage. June 2022.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213538322000145
Global Partnerships for HPV Vaccine Must Look Beyond National Income. JCO Global Oncology November 2020; 6:1746-1748. doi: 10.1200/GO.20.00504.
Why Nigeria Needs to Start HPV Vaccinations in 2021. ThisDay News November 2019: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/11/19/why-nigeria-needs- to-start-hpv-vaccinations-in-2021/
The role of African women in oncology. ecancer.org November 2019:
https://ecancer.org/en/video/8748-the-role-of-african-women-in-oncology
Planning and advocating for cervical cancer prevention in Kebbi State, Nigeria: Learning points for the global call to eliminate cervical cancer. https://www.researchgate.net/journal/International-journal-of-gynaecology-and-obstetrics-the- official-organ-of-the-International-Federation-of-Gynaecology-and-Obstetrics-1879-3479
Patch test results obtained with the European baseline series at a diagnostics centre in Abuja, Nigeria. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30903665/
Kick Out Cancer Campaign. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328001083_Kick_Out_Cancer_Campaign

Challenges of Planning a Sustainable Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Low-Resource Settings. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328002540_Challenges_of_Planning_a_Sustainab le_Comprehensive_Cervical_Cancer_Prevention_Program_in_Low-Resource_Settings Improving Breast Cancer Patients Survival and Quality of Life by Targeting Traditional and Religious Leaders in Northern Nigeria. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328001406_Improving_Breast_Cancer_Patients_S urvival_and_Quality_of_Life_by_Targeting_Traditional_and_Religious_Leaders_in_Norther n_Nigeria
Creative Approaches to Strengthening the Rule of Law through Education: Good Practices from around the World. https://www.unodc.org/documents/e4j/HLC- Oct2019/E4J_HLC_Day_1_Session_III_Dr.Zainab_Shinkafi_Bagudu.pdf
Patch test results obtained with the European baseline series at a diagnostics centre in Abuja, Nigeria. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cod.13274?sharing_unavailable=mobile_de