Listen to "Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma on African health leadership" on Spreaker.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed stark inequalities in the global health architecture. As the virus spread, a handful of mostly wealthy countries had the money, the private sector relationships, and the power to be first in line for vaccines, treatments and supplies — while global health institutions struggled to even the playing field.
Health leaders on the African continent have taken that lesson to heart, and one institution at the forefront of a new vision for African health security is the Africa Centers for Disease Control. Raj Kumar, Editor in Chief of Devex, spoke to Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, acting director at Africa CDC, about how the continent’s quest for greater self-reliance is unfolding — and what a more regional approach to preparing for pandemics might look like.
Update, Oct. 6, 2022: In a previous version of this text, we wrongly wrote that Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma was the second in command. He’s the acting director of Africa CDC.
About the authors
Raj Kumarraj_devex
Raj Kumar is the President and Editor-in-Chief at Devex, the media platform for the global development community. He is a media leader and former humanitarian council chair for the World Economic Forum and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His work has led him to more than 50 countries, where he has had the honor to meet many of the aid workers and development professionals who make up the Devex community. He is the author of the book "The Business of Changing the World," a go-to primer on the ideas, people, and technology disrupting the aid industry.
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
Naomi Mihara
Naomi Mihara is an Associate Editor for Devex, working on creative and audiovisual projects. She has a background in journalism and international development, having previously served as an assistant correspondent for Japanese newspaper The Yomiuri Shimbun and as a communications officer for the International Organization for Migration in Southeast Asia. She holds a master’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University.