The Guest Speaker is Dr Zainab Bagudu Shinkafi, wife of the Kebbi State Governor and CEO of Medicaid Cancer Foundation.
The launching will be chaired by Prof Ahmed Ahidjo, Chief Medical Director of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The Special Guest of Honor is General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (rtd), while the Chief Launcher is the Managing Director of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Ms Zouera Youssoufou. Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Chairman, House Committee on Health is the Guest of Honor.
Royal Father of the Day is Major-General Muhammed Sani Sami (rtd) , Emir of Zuru. Mothers of the Day are Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs and Mrs Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, former First Lady of Imo State.
Prof Umar Adam Katsayal of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and Dr Abubakar Muhammad Sani, Sarkin Shanun Yamatu, Gombe are the Book Reviewer and Book Presenter respectively.
A Cervical Cancer and VVF inspired book titled NADAMA written by NAHCON’S Fatima Sanda Usara is due for launching at the ASO Hall of international conference center Abuja, on 6th may 2023.
The Book, Nadama is a Hausa tragic drama whose theme is derived from the name of the book itself, ‘regret’. Its is premised on creating awareness on Cervical Cancer and Vesico-Virginal Fistula (VVF). The story is a tragedy, twisted around unfortunate incidences of public concern, healthcare, love, honor, and consequences of irrationality.
The contents on VVF and Cervical Cancer are facts collated from research and interface with experts in the field. This approach places Nadama on a vantage ground of passing on a vital message while captivating the reader through entertainment (edutainment).
Looking at the predominat hausa community where the mortality rate for this diseases are very high, awareness of preventive measure is very low especially for those in rural areas of northern Nigeria. This informed the use of Hausa Language as the first means of conveying this message. This level ignorance call for the deliberate and continuous effort by all relevant stakeholders including agencies of government at all levels, private sector and well meaning individuals like Hajia Fatima Sanda Usara to educate and enlighten the populace until we have a zero VVF and cervical cancer status.
Nadama also highlights the importance of community networking in confronting health challenges suffered by the vulnerable.
The primary aim of the writer is to send this message down to the grassroot level through production of this drama as a first step. It will be followed by production of an audio book and ultimately production of a home video in the popular Hausa movie industry Kannywood and possibly Nollywood for non hausa speakers, the African continent with similar challenges and the world at large. Hopefully the ministry
Besides, it also contains rich Hausa culture in form of proverbs, wise sayings, family culture and relationships worthy of being studied in our schools. It is also within our radar that depending on its acceptability and popular demand, an English translation may follow.
With the advancement of modern medicine, we should come together to reduce the number of annual mortality rate from this avoidable disease. Your contribution towards the success of this book is a contribution towards saving the lives of women in our Hausa speaking communities through educating them on ills of cervical cancer, its preventive methods and survival options.
It is therefore paramount for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, region or religion to spread this message to every nook and cranny of our dear country in order to save lives.