By Bhabna Banerjee and Jamie Hansen

In February, members of the inaugural cohort of Stanford African Scholars in Global Health (SASH) had the opportunity to lead insightful discussions on critical health challenges across Africa in partnership with the Stanford Center for African Studies.  

During a February Africa Table event, Dr. Nahom Teshager examined the complexities of providing antiretroviral therapy to children in low-resource settings, addressing disparities in access and pathways to optimization. Dr. Yewande Babalola then discussed the evolving impact of HIV/AIDS on ocular health, shedding light on shifting disease patterns and health outcomes in African populations. In a separate Africa Table discussion later in February, Dr. Esohe Olivia Ogboghodo shared lessons from Nigeria’s Turn Nigeria Orange Network, a national initiative combating healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance. Her talk emphasized the power of inter-facility collaboration, data-driven interventions, and capacity-building to improve infection prevention across African healthcare systems.

Moderated by Dr. Michele Barry and Dr. Jorge Salinas, these conversations reinforced the power of cross-institutional collaboration in addressing global health disparities and advancing sustainable solutions for health equity. 

“The Center for African Studies is excited to collaborate with the Stanford African Scholars in Global Health Program,” said Associate Director of the Stanford Center for African Studies, Dr. Robin Phylisia Chapdelaine.

“Through our dynamic partnership, SASH scholars have been showcasing their groundbreaking research at our weekly Africa Table sessions, shedding light on some of the most urgent global health challenges. Their diverse work underscores the innovative solutions being developed across Africa to address these critical issues,” she said.

In a third event in February, SASH scholars joined the Center for Innovation in Global Health for a timely discussion on the health impacts of climate and their particular impacts in Africa. The event was led by Dr. Barbara Erny, Dr. Desiree LaBeaud, Dr. Wendy Bernstein, and Faye Sahai. These experts shared research and data on rising climate-driven health crises, from climate’s effect on food systems and nutrients, to the changing distribution of vector-borne diseases due to shifting weather patterns.

SASH scholars then presented firsthand accounts of the health impacts of climate change they see as physicians in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria.

“The new connections with Barbara, Desiree, Wendy and Faye, offered opportunities for bidirectional learning, and partnership building,” said Dr. Esohe Ogboghodo, a SASH scholar from Nigeria. “The diverse expertise of these doctors and experts, particularly their focus on the intersections between climate and health, provides a rich opportunity for mutual knowledge exchange. My experience in maternal and child health can complement their work on climate-induced health challenges. Together, we can gain collaborative insights into how climate change exacerbates health disparities, particularly for vulnerable populations.”

Another SASH scholar, Dr. Ombeva Malande, shared a poem, “Climate Reflections,” which he wrote for the Kenya Pediatric Association newsletter on how climate change has affected people’s lives, including starvation and malnutrition.

While the first SASH cohort concluded their journey at Stanford in February, three additional cohorts will join us over the course of 2025. We look forward to fostering lasting partnerships that advance health equity and help create impact beyond borders. We are grateful to the scholars for sharing their knowledge and insights. Learn more about the individual scholars here.