Hosts: The Rhodes University African Studies Centre in association with the Institute for Africa and African Diaspora Studies at the University of Lagos

Funded by: The Open Society of Southern Africa (OSISA)

When the COVID-19 vaccine production was announced, some African governments ordered stocks and planned to administer the vaccine to their targeted population groups. Whilst this pro-activity and general responsiveness is appreciated, we would like to examine fundamental questions relating to the politics of global health and Africa’s position in the world health systems architecture. Is the growing African population merely a consumer of drugs from global pharmaceutical corporations? How much money is invested into drug discovery in Africa, and to what effect? What roles do African medical research institutes play in drug discovery and production? This necessitates an enquiry on the following issues.

• The state of medical research in Africa
• The roles and responses of the African Union to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Disease control and the African experience – The Centers for disease control
• Whither Afro-medical futures? – pharma-politics, and medical consumerism
• Indigenous medical knowledge systems and health reform

Panelists: 

1. Prof A.E. Abayomi, Honourable Commissioner of Health, Lagos State, Nigeria.
2. Professor Salim Abdool Karim – Chairperson, Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, RSA

1. Mr Siphosami Malunga - Executive Director, OSISA Southern Africa.
2. Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako - Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research

Convenor 

Professor Enocent Msindo (African Studies Centre, Rhodes University, South Africa)

Moderators

Dr Adedamola Adetiba (African Studies Centre, Rhodes University)

Dr Akin-Otiko Paul Akinmayowa (Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, University of Lagos, Nigeria)

Register now: bit.ly/3g8lCcc