The First Lady of Kebbi State and founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, has called on the federal government and development partners to make Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines available for regular vaccination of women and girls in the country. She said doing so would prevent cervical cancer in the country.
She said this yesterday in Abuja during an annual walk organised by the Medicaid Cancer Foundation to raise awareness about cancer and support patients. The walk is tagged, WalkAwayCancer.
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Hundreds of people across the country participated in the walk.
They included celebrities from the music and film industry, medical experts, stakeholders from government and civil society organisations and the general public.
Dr Bagudu said a N50million fund co-managed by the Medicaid Cancer Foundation and the Nigeria Cancer Society was established this year to support cancer patients, and scientists for research to enable Nigeria have more tailor-made medicines for cancer patients in the country.
She said the work of the foundation had a high impact on awareness, support for cancer patients, as well as improved policies from government.
The governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku-Bagudu, said the foundation commenced the annual cancer walk 14 years ago, adding that it had contributed significantly to the advocacy against cancer in the country.
The president of the Nigeria Cancer Society, Dr Adamu Alhassan Umar, said there was poor data collection for the burden of cancer in Nigeria, noting that the country relies on stale data from other sources.
Gloria Orji, a cancer survivor and president, Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria (NEPICIN), commended the Medicaid Cancer Foundation for the walk, saying it provides a platform for increased awareness on cancer.
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