Recently updated on October 24th, 2022 at 02:42 pm
Runcie Chidebe has been named recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Advocacy Award by the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) during its annual global award on cancer and gynecology.
- Lifetime achievement awardees – Monica Bacon (Canada) and Dr. Nicoletta Colombo (Italy)
- Excellence in Teaching awardee – Dr. Rahel Ghebre (USA)
- Distinguished advocacy awardee – Dr. Nathalie Dauphin McKenzie (USA/Haiti)
- 2020 IJGC award recipients – Dr. Gloria Salvo (Most Downloaded Paper Award) and Dr. David Cibula (Editor’s Choice Award) will receive the journal awards.
These award recipients will be recognized at the upcoming xDigital Annual Global Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, which will be held in a fully digital setting this September 10-13, 2020.
The Awards Ceremony will take place during the Opening Ceremony on September 10th at 2:00 p.m. UCT.
According to International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS):
“For outstanding advocacy throughout Nigeria and in global forums, including founding Project PINK BLUE — an organization focused on cancer advocacy, oncology training, and research—as well as influencing the establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, developing numerous programs to serve the most needy, and changing cancer awareness and care throughout Nigeria.”
Thirty four-year-old Runcie Chidebe has been on the frontline of cancer control and advocacy in Nigeria, Africa and globally.
He is a member of Nigeria’s ministerial committee on National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP 2018-2022) and known for his consistent engagement with Nigerian government on cancer care and health issues.
Runcie Chidebe has been working with hundreds of women diagnosed with cancer in Nigeria. In 2017, he founded the first breast cancer support group in Abuja, which has grown into a national network-connecting cancer patients across the country.
In 2019, he announced during the 2019 World Cancer Day event hosted by Project PINK BLUE.
Expressing his appreciation for the recognition, Runcie Chidebe said:
“I am extremely humbled by this recognition. It is a proof that we must remain focused and consistent on advocating for our government and indigent women impacted by cancer to have a second chance in life. In my estimation, cervical cancer to girls and women is like poliomyelitis.
I want to see a day that all girls and women in Nigeria will have access to the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine that prevents cervical cancer. Nigerian and African governments need to see that our women’s future will be bleak if we do nothing; that’s my comment in respect to this award.”
Runcie Chidebe is the only Nigeria recognized among the seven scientists and advocates honoured by the IGCS globally.
