Winnie Byanyima
Dr Tom Mulisa
Mildred Mapingure's story
This episode explores the importance of nurturing professionals from diverse fields to transform sexual and reproductive health in Africa. The guest discusses how integrating perspectives from medicine, law, public health, education, and advocacy can lead to more inclusive and effective SRH responses. The conversation highlights the need to reimagine training, mentorship, and collaboration to support a new generation of African professionals equipped to drive meaningful change in SRH.
Dr. Peter Igogo, a seasoned medical practitioner, shed light on the complex intersection of law and medicine, particularly in the realm of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services in Kenya. Drawing from his two decades of experience in the country, Dr. Igogo highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare providers and patients alike.
He emphasized the need for legislators to gain firsthand insights into the realities of SRHR issues by visiting communities and witnessing the experiences of victims and medical professionals. This firsthand exposure would enable policymakers to craft informed and effective legislation.
Dr. Igogo also stressed the importance of training and sensitizing young health professionals to equip them with the knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive SRHR services. He shared inspiring success stories resulting from the collaboration between the legal support network and medical practitioners in Kenya.
However, Dr. Igogo expressed concern over the strong opposition to SRHR services, which ultimately harms those who rely on them. He remains hopeful for the future, believing that with continued advocacy and collaboration, significant progress can be made in advancing reproductive health and rights in Kenya.
Dr. Kangaude, a prominent figure in Malawi's reproductive health landscape, shares insights on the strategies CSOs are employing to advance reproductive justice in Malawi. He emphasizes the critical role of advocacy in raising awareness, influencing policy, and challenging discriminatory laws. Collaboration between African countries, he argues, is essential to share experiences, strengthen regional networks, and amplify collective voices.
Dr. Kangaude also discusses the numerous challenges CSOs face and the Nyale Institute's implementation of innovative strategies to overcome these obstacles. The episode highlights the success stories and impactful cases championed by Nyale Institute, demonstrating the power of strategic interventions and unwavering commitment to reproductive justice in Africa
In this episode, we host Chirisa Isheanesu, the Executive Director of Women and The Law in Southern Africa (WLSA). Chirisa delves into the complexities of reproductive justice in Zimbabwe, highlighting the significant barriers women face in accessing essential reproductive health services.
She discusses the groundbreaking work of WLSA in challenging these barriers and advocating for women's rights. Drawing on her own experiences, Chirisa shares valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of litigating reproductive justice cases in Zimbabwe. She also emphasizes the importance of South-to-South knowledge exchange in strengthening regional efforts to advance reproductive justice.
In this episode, Khanyisa Mapipa, a seasoned human rights lawyer from South Africa, shares her invaluable experiences and insights on the challenges and triumphs of litigating reproductive justice in her country.
Mapipa delved into the complexities of navigating a legal landscape that, while progressive on paper, often presents significant barriers to accessing reproductive healthcare. She highlights the persistent challenges faced by women, including the stigma surrounding reproductive health and the need to capacitate judges on reproductive rights issues to ensure they make informed decisions based on evidence and human rights principles.
This episode offers a rare opportunity to hear from a judge, Justice Mandala Mambulasa. A distinguished judge of the High Court of Malawi, Justice Mambulasa brings a unique perspective, sharing his experiences and insights on the challenges and opportunities of litigating reproductive justice in Southern Africa, leveraging Malawi's landscape. He also explores the critical role of the judiciary in advancing reproductive justice, the impact of societal norms, and the potential of South-South knowledge exchange to strengthen regional efforts towards realising Reproductive Justice in Africa.
Anand Grover, Director of Lawyers Collective in India, featured on the second series of the Ahaki podcast, "Reimagining a Regional Africentric Approach to Litigating Reproductive Justice through South-to-South Knowledge Exchange." In his episode, Grover delved into India's experiences and lessons learned in advocating for reproductive justice. He discussed the challenges and successes advocates face in navigating complex legal and social landscapes to protect reproductive rights. Grover also shared insights on the potential for South-to-South collaboration between South Asian and African Countries to strengthen reproductive justice advocacy efforts and exchange best practices.
In commemoration of #WorldHealthDay2024, let's remember the crucial role of functional health systems, particularly in Africa. #TheAhakiPodcast dives deep with Prof. Omaswa on building resilient health systems. He leverages lessons and perspectives from across Africa, highlighting how the COVID-19 era exposed vulnerabilities and underscored the urgent need for strong primary healthcare systems.
This episode is a continuation of the previous episode
Dr. Mulumba Moses leverages his personal story in this episode. He describes growing up in a hospital environment with his mother, a nurse. This experience, he explains, deeply influenced him and became the inspiration behind his work. It fueled his passion to establish CSOs like CEHURD and Afya na Haki and ultimately drove him to pursue initiatives that have advanced health, human rights, and SRHR not just in Uganda, but across Africa.
"Long before the colonialists' arrival, Africans possessed a rich tradition of healthcare and a sophisticated system of traditional medicine, treating diseases with herbs, minerals, and other methods. Their approach was rooted in a deep understanding of the natural world, allowing them to distinguish beneficial plants from harmful ones. This knowledge passed down through generations, ensured that healthcare was accessible to all within their communities."- Professor Seggane Musisi in Episode One on Decolonising the Legacy of Colonial Medicine.