Miva Open University hosted a compelling masterclass on June 26th, 2024, featuring Her Excellency Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, a distinguished Consultant Paediatrician, Founder/CEO of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Medicaid Radio-Diagnostics & Clinics, Chairperson, First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Member, Board of Union of International Cancer Control (UICC), and global cancer advocate, led a session on “Holistic Pediatric Care: Addressing Cancer in Kids.”
Dr. Zainab emphasised the importance of a holistic approach to paediatric care. She elaborated that true holistic care encompasses various elements including centralised child services, parents and caregivers, and a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. She illustrated the interconnected nature of these elements through a detailed slide, explaining that the optimal well-being of children depends on a seamless integration of these components. “All these have to work hand-in-hand in a smooth way to ensure that we have the optimal well-being for our children,” Dr. Zainab noted.
The session took a deep dive into the specific area of paediatric cancer, a field where Dr. Zainab has significant expertise. She pointed out the alarming reality that many people are unaware children can get cancer. “Quite a few people don’t even think that children get cancer. It’s a chronic disease of old age, but children do get cancers,” she stated.
She identified the most common types of childhood cancers, including leukaemias, lymphomas, brain tumours, neuroblastomas, and retinoblastomas. Highlighting the disparity in survival rates between high-income countries and lower-income regions, she stressed the crucial need for early diagnosis and treatment. In high-income countries, the survival rate for childhood cancer exceeds 80%, whereas in lower-income regions, it languishes between 20-30%.
Dr. Zainab underscored the pivotal role of healthcare professionals in improving these statistics. She emphasised the importance of a high index of suspicion among first-line healthcare providers. “By the time you see a child that is coming in two, three times with the same complaint… it should make you dig deeper and do a blood film, at least to rule out cancer,” she advised.
The session also touched on the broader aspects of holistic and collaborative care. Dr. Zainab highlighted the need for collaboration among different healthcare sectors and the importance of educating caregivers and the community. “We must talk about collaborative and holistic care for a good percentage of our population before you see them in the hospital,” she explained.
She also discussed the challenges posed by drug resistance due to overuse and misuse of medications, particularly in the treatment of common ailments like malaria. “We are currently facing an epidemic of resistance from all the medicines that we’re used to,” she warned.
Dr. Zainab shared her personal journey from paediatrics to a focus on cancer care, driven by the pressing needs she encountered in her practice. She recounted how mothers often sought her advice on various health issues, leading her to establish the Medicaid Cancer Foundation to support women’s health and cancer care.
Dr. Zainab’s masterclass was a profound exploration of the complexities and necessities of holistic paediatric care, particularly in the context of childhood cancer. Her insights and experiences provided invaluable knowledge to the attendees, urging them to advocate for early diagnosis, proper treatment, and collaborative care.
This masterclass not only enlightened the Miva Open University community but also reinforced the institution’s commitment to advancing education in critical healthcare areas. The recording of Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu’s session is available on the Miva Open University YouTube channel (@mivauniversity).
For more information about Miva Open University‘s programmes, admissions, and other offerings, visit our website: www.miva.university or contact an Admissions Advisor on WhatsApp: +234 913 230 0000.
