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

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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.

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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.

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Dr. Chinonso Egemba, also known as Aproko Doctor, shares his journey of becoming an influential health educator on social media. He discusses the challenges of balancing medical practice and content creation, as well as the importance of using humor and storytelling in health education. Dr. Egemba also addresses the issue of misinformation and fake news in the health space and highlights the need for collaboration and credible sources. He shares his experience with a brain tumor and how it has impacted his work. The conversation also touches on the banter between Nigeria and Ghana, the importance of support systems, and tips for getting into the healthcare field. Dr. Chinonso emphasizes the power of storytelling and collaboration in healthcare.

Takeaways

• Using humor and storytelling can make health education more engaging and relatable.
• Collaboration and fact-checking are essential in combating misinformation and fake news in the health space.
• The future of online education in health will involve storytelling, movies, and music to reach a wider audience.
• Overworking can be a coping mechanism, but it's important to prioritize self-care.
• Collaboration can lead to bigger impact in healthcare.
• Don't be afraid of criticism, but be self-aware and open to making amends.
• Integrate work and life to avoid burnout.
• Start taking action towards your goals, even if it's not perfect.
• Rest and pacing yourself are important for sustainability.

Follow Aproko Doctor on Instagram: @aproko_doctor
Learn more about Aproko Doctor here

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We are thrilled to have Dr. Catherine Kyobutungi back on the show. Our conversation explores the impact of prophets and spiritual healers on people's health across Africa and beyond. We discuss the disturbing revelations from the documentary about TB Joshua and the manipulation, abuse, and exploitation committed by him and other religious leaders. We examine the prevalence of faith healing in Africa and the reasons behind the strong religious beliefs on the continent. The need for integration between science and religion is highlighted, along with the challenges faced by African scientists and healthcare practitioners. We also explore the lack of accountability and the difficulty of achieving justice when there is collusion between politics and religion. Catherine emphasizes the importance of resisting oppression and treating patients with respect and calls for reevaluating power dynamics in science and policy, urging scientists to listen and engage with communities. Enjoy!

Takeaways

• Accountability is often lacking in cases of wrongdoing, particularly in religious and political contexts.
• Collusion between politics and religion can make accountability even more challenging.
• Resisting oppression and treating patients with respect is crucial in healthcare and research.
• Power dynamics in science and policy need to be examined, and scientists should listen to and engage with communities.
• Humility and creating space for discussions are essential in addressing pervasive problems.

Follow Catherine on X: @CKyobutungi

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Dr. Ismahan Soukeyna Diop, a psychologist and psychotherapist from Senegal, discusses her groundbreaking work in African mythology and storytelling in the field of mental health care. She introduces TAMPSY, a revolutionary psychotherapeutic tool rooted in a decolonial approach that is transforming mental health care in Africa. The conversation explores the importance of culturally appropriate approaches in mental health care, the differences between Western and African approaches, the role of African mythology in psychology, and the impact of TAMPSY (Tales of African Mythology Psychotherapy) on patients and practitioners. Dr. Diop also highlights her book on adornment, masquerade, and African femininity.

Takeaways

- Culturally appropriate approaches are crucial in mental health care to ensure that interventions are relevant and effective for individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
- African mythology and storytelling can significantly contribute to mental health care by providing a framework for understanding and addressing psychological challenges.
- There is a need to challenge the colonial influence on psychology and embrace diverse cultural perspectives in mental health care.
- TAMPSY, a psychotherapeutic tool rooted in African mythology, is positively impacting mental health care in Senegal, providing a more contextualized and culturally relevant approach.


To learn more about TAMPSY, visit tampsy-optoa.com
Dr. Soukeyna's books can be found here

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In 2002, Patrick Awuah left his lucrative job as an executive at Microsoft, moved back to Ghana, and founded Ashesi University. Realizing that a root cause of underdevelopment was poor leadership, Patrick set up Ashesi University to train the next generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Ghana and Africa. Today, Ashesi University is one of the leading Universities on the continent and has had a tremendous impact on higher education in Ghana. In this episode, Patrick shares the inspiring story around the founding of Ashesi University, its vision and impact, and his outlook on higher education in Africa. He also has some wonderfully honest advice for young people looking to take audacious steps to contribute to the continent's sustainable development.

Learn more about Ashesi University

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