African Research Excellence Ep. 6: Dr John Nkengasong, Africa CDC

Interview with Dr John Nkengasong, Africa CDC

You’re listening to episode 4 of “African Research Excellence – DSW in conversation” – where each week Eoghan Walsh and Agustin Martin of DSW interview outstanding African researchers and advocates in the field of global health research, to learn more about their work and their views on the needs and opportunities to advance GH R&I in Africa.

2020 is set to be a big year for EU-Africa relations, and for global health – even before the Covid-19 emergency. Organisations like the Africa CDC have a vital role in monitoring, managing, and responding to the continent’s major disease outbreaks – from long-term epidemics of HIV & AIDS, TB, and Malaria, to new outbreaks of Ebola and most recently Covid-19. Working to build up the continent’s research and innovation capacity is vital to this mission. So we’re delighted to have on as a guest on this week’s episode Dr John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC), and we discuss how the disease profile of the African continent has changed in the course of his career, his plans for the fledgling CDC, and how it’s responding to outbreaks of Covid-19 across the continent.

Thanks to Dr Nkengasong for his time and his insight. You can find out more about DSW and the podcast at our website, dsw.org, and if you haven’t already please subscribe on your favourite podcast player! This podcast was edited by Jonathan Rowe, the artwork was designed by Alissa Thaler, and the music is courtesy of epidemic sound.

Until next time.