Cancer: Expert urges utilization of pathologists for quality care

Founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation and wife of Kebbi State governor, Dr Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, has said that the utilisation of the skills of pathologists was key to quality diagnosis and care of cancer.

A statement from the foundation said she stated this during the 11th annual conference of the West African Division of the International Academy of Pathologists (WADIAP) in Kuforidia, Ghana.

Pathologists from the various countries of Africa gathered to brainstorm on the theme ‘Cytopathology in Oncological Diagnosis’.

She said to improve cancer care, availability and accuracy of cytological diagnosis had to improve in a commensurate way.

Cytological diagnosis involves the detection of diseases and conditions such as cancer through the examination or diagnosis of cells in the body.

While saying that Medicaid Diagnostic Center relied on skills of pathologists , she called on the experts to engage the Kebbi State Ministry of Health, adding that Governor Atiku Bagudu’s administration provided a conducive environment for professional development.

The Kebbi State government does not have a pathologist in its employment, at present, the statement added.

In her presentation, Dr Bagudu shared her experiences on cancer control from perspectives as the wife of a state governor, the Chief Executive Officer of a diagnostic firm and as an initiator of a cancer foundation, the statement said.

The Medicaid Cancer Foundation boss who led a team of six professionals from Kebbi and Zamfara states including two pathologists, a histopathologist and an oncology nurse to the conference, said human resource for health was a burning issue that Africa needed to tackle.