About Dr. ZSB

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, is a Consultant Paediatrician and an advocate for women’s health, with a particular focus on cancer, often referred as the mother of health in her native, Kebbi State. She 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 University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. She returned to work as a clinician in Northern Nigeria and was confronted with challenges clinicians and patients face with accessing quality medical diagnostic services. In response, she founded the first comprehensive diagnostic medical center in 2009; offering services previously unavailable through the private sector such as computed tomography scan (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), digital x-rays and molecular laboratory services. 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 whilst and easing access to diagnostic and treatment services for cancer patients. MCF has worked with partners over the last 13 years to raise over 2million 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 of 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. FLAC advocates for the adoption and full implementation of Universal Health Coverage by all levels of government in Nigeria as a critical pathway to accelerating access to quality healthcare services. In her role as the First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr Bagudu is working 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.