Global Health Seminar Series 2023-2024
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 / 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Dr. Gwenigale, former Liberian Minister of Health, said that “Health is made at home and only when it is broken does a health care professional or facility becomes necessary.” Achieving Sustainable Development Goals health targets and addressing inequities will require strong and inclusive community health systems. Community health systems should be an integral component of efforts to accelerate Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and address future pandemics. This talk will be elaborate on principles for integrating strong community health systems into primary health care and approaches for prioritizing communities as the first line of defense in global health security.
Dr. Ochiawunma Akwiwu-Ibe, MD, MPH, FWACP, MSc, is a physician with over 20 years of experience in managing public health programs in diverse technical areas, including global health security, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children, and reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH). She focuses on Community Health Systems Strengthening, including event-based surveillance and nutrition programming, through initiatives funded by USAID and the Presidents Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She served as the Deputy Project Director for a 6-year USAID-funded $135 million infectious disease detection and surveillance project led by the Inner City Fund (ICF). Dr. Ibe is a member of the WHO Advisory Group on global prototype curricula for community health workers.
