Reported By: Obadeyi Khalifat Boluwatife

It’s been exactly a week since after the 5th YOHAN Africa Summit and we are still reliving the moments from the summit. This blog post is a way to bring you up-to-date with all that went down during the summit.

The 5th YOHAN Africa summit took place virtually on Google Meet from April 19th to 20th, 2024. Organized by the advisory board and board of directors of YOHAN Africa, the event was co-hosted by Comfort Enegwa and Amarachi Ike on the first day and hosted by Nzubechukwu Ogamba on the second day. The summit showcased accomplished youth innovators, activists, scientists, and community organizers, with over 40 participants dedicated to improving health outcomes in Africa. The conference theme, “Ignite: Young Minds, Bold Solutions, Transforming Africa’s Health,” aimed to engage youth in honing their critical thinking skills to generate innovative ideas and implement high-impact solutions to community health challenges, thus enhancing the healthcare system.

Across the two days, the conference provided a platform for dialogue, learning, and networking, fostering valuable exchanges of experiences. Key topics covered included design thinking, grassroots initiatives, and technology applications to address healthcare system challenges in Africa; promoting mutual understanding, respect, and inclusive representation to enhance patient care; advocating for collaboration and networking among young healthcare professionals; embracing accountability in addressing healthcare sector issues; and strategies for mentorship and capacity building. Speakers highlighted the significant challenges confronting the African healthcare system and emphasized the unique opportunity for young people to drive positive change through innovative solutions and grassroots initiatives.

OFFICIAL OPENING

Dr. Nnamdi Obasi, Co-founder and Board Member of YOHAN Africa, commenced the summit by addressing the theme “Young Minds, Bold Solutions, Transforming Africa’s Health.” He underscored Africa’s dire healthcare situation, citing its alarmingly high maternal mortality rate, which sees 814 out of every 1000 women succumbing annually—a tragedy that he emphasized as largely preventable. Dr. Obasi attributed this crisis to governmental apathy, characterized by insufficient political will and inadequate investment in healthcare infrastructure. He also criticized academia for its stagnation, attributing it to intellectual complacency.

Dr. Obasi emphasized the imperative of intellectual curiosity and proactive problem-solving, urging a departure from surface-level approaches to healthcare challenges towards a deeper understanding of their root causes.

In line with YOHAN Africa’s mission, Dr. Obasi articulated the organization’s goal: “To effectively engage African youth in creatively advancing comprehensive community health and access across the continent through research, health education, cost-effective interventions, advocacy, and networking.” He outlined the strategies to achieve this goal, including:

• Connecting young minds with relevant resources to enhance their capabilities and societal contributions.
• Providing training opportunities to empower youth.
• Facilitating field experiences through outreach programs.

He concluded by lauding the efforts of Executive Director Dr. Nzubechukwu Ogamba, the entire board of directors, and YOHAN volunteers for their significant contributions over the years. Dr. Obasi reiterated the importance of African youth taking proactive steps, urging them to seize opportunities and initiate change.

SUB- THEMES

SPARK INNOVATION: FOSTERING HEALTH

SESSION ONE

Olutola Awosiku, Director of Operations for Digital Health Africa, delivered a compelling presentation titled “Hacking Healthcare: Leveraging Technology, Design Thinking, and Grassroots Initiatives.” Awosiku highlighted Africa’s unique healthcare challenges, including its high disease burden and comparatively low life expectancy, as indicative of systemic deficiencies.

Acknowledging the potential for digital technology to revolutionize healthcare, Awosiku advocated for innovative solutions and unconventional approaches to address these challenges. She introduced the concept of “hacking healthcare,” which involves creatively tackling issues through design thinking, technology, and grassroots initiatives to effect positive change.

Awosiku delved into the principles of design thinking, emphasizing the importance of empathy in understanding stakeholders’ needs and pain points. She outlined the iterative process of ideation, prototyping, testing, and refinement, stressing the significance of user-centric solutions.

Highlighting grassroots initiatives such as the Lucy app, mom connect, and IntelliSOFT, Awosiku showcased how these platforms enhance healthcare accessibility and literacy, ultimately improving public health outcomes.

Discussing the role of technology, Awosiku proposed implementing a national electronic medical records system to streamline healthcare processes and facilitate research. She also highlighted telehealth services, such as WhatsApp consultations, as a means to provide efficient healthcare access.

Awosiku concluded with a case study of the Zuri Health Medical Camp, where collaboration with the M.PESA foundation in Kenya facilitated community healthcare outreach based on the needs of the people. She cited the initiative’s success in providing free medical services to over 24,000 people across five Kenyan counties. Responding to a question regarding health insurance in Nigeria, Awosiku noted the presence of NHIS as a private body in Nigeria performing the same purpose, concluding her insightful presentation.

IGNITE COLLABORATION: BRIDGING DIVIDES

SESSION TWO

Dr. Ahaneku Ekenedirichuku, a psychologist and public health physician, illuminated the topic “Intergenerational Dialogue: Nurturing Partnerships between Young and Seasoned Leaders.” He underscored the importance of involving individuals of varying ages in healthcare initiatives to ensure diverse perspectives and effective decision-making. Dr. Ekenedirichuku emphasized the critical role of merging the wisdom of elder leaders with the innovative ideas of younger generations to enhance communication and healthcare delivery systems across Nigeria and Africa.

He highlighted the necessity of robust leadership development programs to cultivate collaboration between young and seasoned leaders in healthcare, thereby promoting superior problem-solving and patient care outcomes. Overcoming obstacles such as resistance, power dynamics, and communication barriers is imperative for fostering successful intergenerational dialogue.

Dr. Ekenedirichuku stressed the importance of establishing rapport and trust among healthcare professionals from different age groups to facilitate effective communication and collaboration within the healthcare sector. This partnership not only ensures improved patient care but also promotes inclusive decision-making processes.

He concluded by emphasizing the significance of professionals working together harmoniously to prioritize patient care over personal achievements, thereby fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence within the healthcare community.

What are your thoughts on the 5th YOHAN Africa Summit?

Get access to Day 2 of the summit’s recap here.