Break it Down

Unreliable electricity has long shaped the reality of care in primary healthcare centres, forcing health workers to rely on candles, torchlights, and improvised solutions during critical moments. For many mothers and newborns, this has meant delayed interventions, compromised care, and avoidable risks. In this episode of #JournoConversations , we explore how renewable energy is beginning to change...

The malaria vaccine marks a historic milestone for Africa, but access, trust, and logistics will determine its success. In this third episode of our #JournoConversations series, we explore how African journalists are telling this story beyond the headlines. Host Chibuike Alagboso, Director of Media Programmes at Nigeria Health Watch, speaks with Sharon Atieno, Journalist and Editor at Science Afri...

Welcome back to the #BreakItDownPodcast, where we unpack big ideas shaping the future of health, development, and social change, one conversation at a time. In this episode, we sit with Dr. Olubayo Adekanmbi, CEO/Founder of Data Science Nigeria (DSN) , to explore how digital innovation is creating new pathways to better health for young people. From using data-driven insights to improve access to...

Welcome back to the #BreakItDownPodcast, where we unpack big ideas shaping the future of health, development, and social change, one conversation at a time. In this episode, our hosts Chibuike Alagboso and Asari Ndem sit with Dr. Olajide Sobande, Executive Director at the NIMR Foundation, to explore why building local research capacity is critical for strengthening Nigeria’s health system. Dr. Sob...

Care work sustains families, supports health systems, and drives economies, yet remains largely unpaid and undervalued. This invisibility has serious consequences for health outcomes, economic equity, and gender equality. In this episode of the Break It Down Podcast , your favourite hosts, Chibuike Alagboso and Asari Ndem , sit down with Chinasa Collins-Ogbuo , Advocacy and Communications Lead at...

In this Break It Down podcast episode, we unpack the stark reality behind the phrase “When the Budget is Barely Breathing: Funding Cuts in Ghana and Kenya.” Our guests, Asha Bekidusa and Stephen , share firsthand insights into how research and health programs are being squeezed by shrinking budgets, what these funding cuts mean for local ownership and sustainability, and why the call for homegrown...

Welcome back to the #BreakItDownPodcast, where we unpack big ideas shaping the future of health, development, and social change, one conversation at a time. In this episode, our hosts Chibuike Alagboso and Asari Ndem sit down with Solomon Chinedu , Senior Associate, NaviHealth.ai & Data Protection Lead at mDoc Healthcare, to explore how digital tools are transforming healthcare access in Niger...

🎙️ Welcome to the #BreakItDownPodcast, where we unpack big ideas shaping the future of health, development, and social change, one conversation at a time. In this episode, our hosts Chibuike Alagboso and Asari Ndem sit down with Sunday Oko , Programme Officer at Nigeria Health Watch , for an urgent conversation on the growing threat of health misinformation in Nigeria . Sunday shares critical insi...

Welcome to our #BreakItDownPodcast, where we unpack big ideas shaping the future of health, development, and social change, one conversation at a time. In this episode, our Hosts, Chibuike Alagboso and Asari Ndem, sit with Emeka Oguanuo , Senior Partnerships Manager at Nigeria Health Watch , for an urgent and timely discussion on the resurgence of cholera in Nigeria . Emeka shares critical insight...

Welcome to our #BreakitDownPodcast, where we unpack big ideas shaping the future of health, development, and social change, one conversation at a time. In this episode, our Host and Director of Media Programmes, Chibuike Alagboso, sits with Rotimi Olawale, Executive Director of Youth Hub Africa, for a deeply insightful conversation. Rotimi shares the personal journey that inspired him to start You...

In this episode of the Break It Down Podcast , our Senior Partnership Manager, Emeka Oguanuo, sits down with Temitope Adegoroye of Sahel Consulting to unpack the alarming impact of climate change on Nigeria's agricultural landscape.  As one of the most agriculturally dependent nations in the world, Nigeria’s food security is at serious risk due to shifting weather patterns, unpredictable rain...

Nigeria is facing a significant challenge in its health sector. More and more doctors, nurses, and health professionals are leaving the country in search of better opportunities. This growing trend, often called the "Japa" syndrome, is putting serious pressure on the healthcare system. Hospitals are struggling to keep up, patients are waiting longer for care, and the remaining health wor...

Postpartum hemorrhage remains one of the biggest threats to maternal health in Africa, but solutions are emerging from different parts of the continent. In this first series of our # JournoConversations , we explore innovative approaches to managing postpartum hemorrhage and what African countries can learn from each other. Host Chibuike Alagboso , Director of Media Programmes at Nigeria Health Wa...

Too many mothers are lost to preventable complications during childbirth, but change is happening. MaMII is taking action to break the cycle of maternal mortality and save lives. In this episode of Break It Down Podcast , your favorite hosts, Chibuike Alagboso and Asari Ndem , sit down with Onyedikachi Eweh to explore how Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovations and Initiatives (MaMII) is tackling...

As Africa gears up for the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) 2025, the conversation on strengthening health systems, addressing inequities, and fostering collaboration has never been more critical. In this special episode of the #BreakItDownPodcast, Dr Githinji Gitahi, Group CEO of Amref Health Africa, joins our Managing Director and host, Vivianne Ihekweazu, to discuss the key...

As the world heats up, mosquitoes are becoming more than just a nuisance—they are evolving into a serious health risk. 🌍🦟 In this episode of our #ClimateChange #BreakItDownPodcast, we dig into how climate change is driving an explosion in mosquito populations and what this means for global health. Featuring Temitayo Tella-Lah from eHealth Africa, and Chukwuemeka Oguanuo  we explore: ➡️ How risin...

In this episode of the Break It Down Podcast, Prof. Sabiha Essack, a leading expert in pharmaceutical sciences, dives deep into the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Africa. Recorded at the 20th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID) 2024, Prof. Essack shares her unique insights into the urgent need for action and the steps African nations must take to curb the r...

Happy New Year! To get the year started off right, we are bringing back In this episode of Break It Down Podcast , the discussion we had at our 2024 Future of Health Conference themed: From Evidence to Action: Building Resilience at the Climate- Health Nexus  The insightful episode featured Dr Chijioke Kaduru, Managing Director of Corona Management Systems (CMS) discussing the critical connections...

In this special episode of the Break It Down Podcast, we feature a conversation we had on the sidelines of the 8th Nigeria Family Planning Conference. The conversation featured Dr. Samukeliso Dube, the Executive Director of FP2030. She unpacked why family planning is not just a health conversation but a fundamental pillar of sustainable development in Africa. She discussed how African countries ar...

A lot has happened in the health sector since our last episode. It’s been a while but we are here to bring you up to speed on everything and even more. We are also switching things up from how we did episode one. We promise a more exciting season that will be more informative and engaging. But first, listen to get a snapshot of what to expect and some highlights of what the health sector has been...

 It's the final episode of the first season of the Break It Down podcast! Yes, it may have dropped a bit late, but it's never really too late to share what we expect from Nigeria's health sector this year. There's still enough time to get them done as we enter the last month of Q1. What are your expectations? What do you hope to see happen or change in Nigeria's health sec...

🎉 Get ready for another riveting episode of Break It Down! 🎙️ In this special episode, our MD, Vivianne Ihekweazu, speaks with Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, Deputy Director General of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). This special episode is a sneak peek into the upcoming Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) set to be held in Lusaka, Zambia from November 27th t...

 Ready for an eye-opening, mind-empowering podcast episode? We’ve got a special treat for you, and it’s not your usual hosts this time!  In this episode of Break It Down, our very own Managing Director, Vivianne Ihekweazu, takes the mic to chat with the incredible Dr. Magda Robalo, a public health physician and former Minister of Health of Guinea-Bissau. Get ready for an insightful conversation ab...

In this episode, we dive into the world of mental health!  We have two incredible guests in the house: Chime Asonye, the lawyer-turned-mental health advocate and founder of Nigerian Mental Health, and the ever-inspiring Lucy Abeng, a lecturer passionate about mental health through her Mental Health for Youth Initiative. We served up insightful takes on the Nigeria Mental Health Survey and why it i...

🎙️ Tune in to our latest podcast episode that's all about maternal health, but trust us, it's anything but boring! 😄 Join us as we dive into the world of Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) with our fantastic guests, Onyedikachi Ewe, our very own Senior Programme and Advocacy Manager, and the amazing Bunmi Oyebanji, Programme Manager extraordinaire. They helpe...