Africa Public Health Podcast

Building Africa’s Public Health Defences: Coordinating Rapid Response and Preparedness with Dr. Wessam Mankoula

In this powerful finale, Dr Wessam Mankoula, Regional Director of Northern RCC and Head of Emergency Preparedness and Response Division at Africa CDC, shares how the continent is turning pandemic lessons into lasting change: From vaccine access to emergency preparedness, from data politics to cross-border trust and a new public health order. Tune in to hear clear insights on what worked, what didn’t, and what must come next to build a stronger, more health resilient Africa.

Advancing Digital Health in Africa: Powering Innovation, Skills and Access

In this episode, Jean-Philbert Nsengimana, Chief Digital Advisor at Africa CDC, takes us through the exciting advancements in digital health across Africa. From mobile health innovations to the role of AI in healthcare. With a focus on skills development, access to care, and fostering innovation, Jean Philbert discusses how these technologies can address long-standing challenges in African healthcare systems, and why collaboration between governments, the private sector, and healthcare professionals is essential for sustainable change.

Building Africa’s Health Workforce: Training, Leadership and the Path to Universal Care

Africa is not short on talent, but it is losing too much of it. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Acting Deputy Director General at Africa CDC and Head of Public Health Institutes and Research, about the urgent need to train community health workers, retain medical professionals, and build a resilient health system that serves everyone on the continent. From crisis to opportunity - this is about building Africa’s health future, from the ground up.

Africa's Health Revolution: Ethics, Innovation, and the Power of R&D

What will it take for Africa to lead its own health breakthroughs?   In this episode, Dr. Mosoka P. Fallah unpacks how homegrown research and ethical innovation are driving Africa’s health revolution. From lessons learned during COVID-19 to the urgent need for political will, he shares how the Africa CDC is shaping a bold, self-reliant future.  We talk R&D, ethics, power, partnerships - and the importance of building a system where African researchers thrive, lead, and stay. Don’t miss this powerful conversation on the future of healthcare on the continent - and what it’ll take to get there.

A Silent Epidemic: Confronting Africa’s NCD Crisis with Dr. Adelard Kakunze

In this episode, we explore the urgent need to integrate Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) management into Africa’s healthcare systems. Dr Adelard Kakunze, Senior Technical Officer – NCDs, Injuries and Mental Health at Africa CDC, shares his insights on the growing burden of NCDs, the challenges faced by healthcare systems, and the critical steps needed to improve access to care.  Tune in now to learn how policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities can work together to address these silent killers.