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This week's conversation dives into the implications of the US's withdrawal from WHO and the halting of USAID funding. Our guest, Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi, shares her insights on the disbelief surrounding these actions, the false narratives that have emerged regarding aid, and the responses (or lack thereof) from African leaders. The discussion emphasizes the need for a critical reevaluation of global health systems and the dependency on aid, framing it as both a challenge and an opportunity for change. In this conversation, Catherine Kyobutungi discusses the complexities of African leadership, the nuances of aid dependency, and the need for accountability in health systems. She emphasizes the importance of rethinking health priorities, balancing infectious and non-communicable diseases, and the role of civil society in demanding accountability from governments.

Read Catherine's article: After USAID: what now for aid and Africa?

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In this episode of the Global Health Unfiltered Podcast, host Desmond Jumbam speaks with Dr. Seye Abimbola about his book, 'The Foreign Gaze: Essays on Global Health.' They discuss how personal experiences, especially familial influences, shape views on global health. Dr. Abimbola shares his mother's impact on his understanding of health systems and social determinants. They also explore 'colonial love' and its effects on current global health practices, alongside the issue of the 'foreign gaze' in academia, highlighting power dynamics in research and policy. The conversation covers health equity, audience dynamics, local knowledge, and health system history. Dr. Abimbola critiques the colonial legacy in global health, stresses the need for connection within systems, and addresses the role of activism. They examine reactions to US foreign policy and advocate for localized health interventions. The discussion also tackles belief in global health and foreign aid, contemplating the 'America First' concept, the perception of aid, the role of health journals, and calls for a reimagined research approach, underscoring local perspectives and robust discourse in global health.

Download Seye's book: https://www.editions.ird.fr/produit/728/9782709930437/the-foreign-gaze

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In this episode of the Global Health Unfiltered Podcast, host Desmond Jumbam discusses the critical intersection of climate change and health with Vanina Laurent-Ledru, Director General of Foundation S. They explore the urgent need for locally-led health adaptation solutions, the barriers to effective funding, and the importance of collective action in addressing climate health impacts. The conversation highlights key recommendations from Fondation S's report, innovative climate resilience models, and young advocates' role in driving change.

Read the report from Foundation S: From Risk to Resilience

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Our guest is Dr. Adji Bousso Dieng, AI researcher at Princeton University and Google. We explore Dr. Dieng's journey from Senegal to Princeton University, the role of Africa in the global AI landscape, the challenges faced in AI development on the continent, and the importance of education and awareness in leveraging AI for development. The conversation highlights the potential of AI to address local problems and the need for infrastructure and investment to support this growth. We also discuss various initiatives to improve AI education in Africa, Dr. Adji NGO 'The Africa I Know', the challenges of AI biases, and the importance of diversity in AI research. We explore the opportunities AI presents for the continent, particularly in education and resource transformation, and provide valuable advice for young innovators looking to make an impact in the field of AI.

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This week's conversation focuses on the current spread of M-Pox (formerly Monkeypox) in Africa and the response to the outbreak. Dr. Boghuma Titanji, an infectious disease expert at Emory University, discusses the history of M-Pox outbreaks in Africa and the factors contributing to its spread. The conversation also explores the role of African governments, the Africa CDC, and the international community in addressing the outbreak. The need for increased investment in healthcare, research, and development in Africa is highlighted, as well as the importance of holding governments accountable and promoting grassroots education on healthcare funding. The conversation explores the challenges and potential solutions for Africa to produce its own vaccines and medications, emphasizing the untapped potential of the continent. It highlights the low percentage of vaccines and basic drugs manufactured in Africa and the competition with established manufacturing hubs in other countries. Trust in locally produced vaccines is also discussed, with the need to shift the mindset of consumers. The conversation emphasizes addressing infrastructure and resource limitations before focusing on vaccine production. Considering the different transmission patterns and populations affected, the need for a tailored vaccination approach for M-POX outbreaks is highlighted. Exciting developments in infectious disease research and vaccine trials in Africa are also mentioned.

00:00 The Current Spread of M-pox in Africa

14:20 The Response to the M-pox Outbreak

19:00 Underlying Issues: Lack of Investment and Prioritization

23:21 The Role of Global Solidarity in Public Health

25:45 Accountability and Self-Reliance in Healthcare

29:35 Accountability and Local Ownership

37:47 The Role of the Private Sector in Vaccine Production

50:26 Tailoring Vaccination Strategies

55:20 Promising Developments in Infectious Disease Research

Follow Boghuma Titanji on LinkedIn

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In this episode, our guests, Sipho Dlamini, Esmita Charani, Everisto Benyera, and Kwesi Amoak, discuss their research projects on decolonizing global health. They explore topics such as the definition of global health, indigenous knowledge practices, mentorship in global health partnerships, and cross-pollination between Universities and local communities in Africa. Our guests highlight the need to challenge the Western-centric approach to global health and to recognize and value indigenous knowledge and practices. They also emphasize the importance of collaboration, equity, and inclusivity in global health research and practice. We discuss the need to expand the definition of knowledge and include diverse perspectives, and highlight the importance of qualitative research in generating contextual knowledge and the need for epistemic humility. The role of Africans in addressing these issues is emphasized, including the need for agency, collaboration, and perseverance.

Cited:
Mentorship as an overlooked dimension of research capacity strengthening: how to embed value-driven practices in global health


The studies discussed were funded by the Decolonization and Global Health Research Exchange Network, a multidisciplinary network of academics, practitioners, and activists with a shared interest in unpacking and analysing decolonisation debates in global health.

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Guest: Dr. Nicholas Okumu, Orthopedic Oncology Specialist and CEO of Stratos Medical

Key Points:

1. Kenya faces a shortage of healthcare workers, with around 4,000 trained physicians, dentists, and pharmacists currently unemployed.
2. Recurring strikes by healthcare workers are common, often related to compensation disputes and lack of implementation of collective bargaining agreements.
3. Poor remuneration and lack of opportunities have led to brain drain, with many Kenyan healthcare workers seeking employment abroad.
4. Public perception often lacks empathy for healthcare workers' demands, viewing them as privileged individuals.
5. Potential solutions discussed include pay-for-performance models, public-private partnerships, and incorporating entrepreneurship and management training into medical education.
6. Dr. Okumu's venture, Stratos Medical, focuses on medical imaging, teleradiology, and developing a platform for accessing electronic health records.
7. The ongoing strike has limited healthcare services to emergency care, causing disruptions and delays in crucial treatments.
8. Dr. Okumu emphasizes the importance of advocacy, collaboration across disciplines, and interdisciplinary approaches to address systemic issues in healthcare.

Follow Nicholas on LinkedIn

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Nandita Venkatesan, a Tuberculosis (TB) survivor and advocate, shares her journey of becoming a TB survivor and the challenges she faced in diagnosing, treating, and recovering from the disease. She discusses the stigma and misconceptions associated with TB and the need for greater awareness and understanding. Nandita also highlights her involvement in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson to improve access to TB treatment. The outcome of the lawsuit resulted in reduced prices for TB medications, demonstrating the power of advocacy efforts. She emphasizes the importance of improving access to shorter regimens, developing a new TB vaccine, and empowering patients with knowledge and information.

Connect with Nandita on X

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