The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Tuesday announced the election of Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu as its President-elect for the 2024-2026 term.
It also announced the election of a new Board of Directors with 14 members, following the UICC General Assembly held virtually on 8 October 2024.
A statement from the organization said full member organisations of UICC from across the globe participated in the election, underscoring UICC’s ongoing commitment to uniting the global cancer community.
Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu who is from Nigeria is the first African to be elected to the position. She is the founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, a consultant paediatrician, and a member of the Nigerian Cancer Society and the American Society for Clinical Oncology.
She is one of the major voices in the fight against cancer in Nigeria and has served in many national and international committees and taskforce on cancer awareness, prevention and control.
She is the chairperson of First Ladies Against cancer, the co-chair of cervical cancer technical working group in Nigeria, and also serves as a Senior Advicer on Women’s Health and cancer advocacy to the Coordinating Minister of Health of Nigeria.
Dr Zainab is a third term member of the UICC and has provided training for healthcare workers, and supported the screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients through her foundation.
She expressed appreciation for the global support: “Thank you for your trust and confidence placed in me, I am especially honoured to work with all of you towards accelerating global cancer control under the umbrella of our great organisation. I will be an interactive leader who will lean on your experiences, insights, and energies to guide the UICC in the years to come.”
Also, Ulrika Årehed Kågström, Secretary-General of the Swedish Cancer Society, also started her tenure as President of UICC for 2024-2026.
In her address to the General Assembly, the incoming President Ulrika
outlined her priorities for the next two years.
She highlighted the need to continue the organisation’s work in addressing inequities in cancer control globally, and the continued need to ensure that cancer remains a priority on the global health agenda, unite and support the cancer community, and enhance global partnerships.
She emphasised in particular the successes of UICC partnership initiatives such as the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, which aims to increase the availability of cancer medicines in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
The outgoing President, Prof. Jeff Dunn AO, provided a review of the organisation’s performance over the past two years, enumerating achievements such as the success of the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit and the World Cancer Congress.
He and Cary Adams, CEO of UICC, congratulated the new President-elect and Board members, acknowledging their expertise and dedication, and thanked members for their participation, expressing optimism for the organisation’s future under its new leadership.
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is the largest and oldest international cancer organisation. Founded in 1933, UICC has over 1,100 member organisations in 170 countries and territories.
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