What About Rural Health?™

What happens after people flee violence, climate disasters, and instability — and where do they go when the headlines fade? 

In this episode of What About Rural Health, we sit down with Dr. Jessica Darrow, Associate Instructional Professor at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, to unpack the hidden layers of the global refugee and migration crisis, especially as it intersects with healthcare in rural and underserved communities. Dr. Darrow challenges the way migration is often framed, pointing out that climate change is an overlooked driver of displacement, even though those aff...

Duration: 00:31:31

In this thought-provoking episode of What About Rural Health?, host Chinasa Imo sits with Dr. Titilayo Ogumbambi, a public health expert whose work blends psychology, policy, and community development to reshape health outcomes in underserved areas.

Dr. Titilayo breaks down the real barriers rural communities face — from lack of transportation and inadequate financing to shortages of skilled community health workers. She also highlights the less-visible obstacles: fear, stigma, mistrust, and deep psychosocial burdens that shape how people seek and respond to care.

The conversation dives into the complex layers of gender-based violence, reminding us th...

Duration: 00:48:40

Nigerian Health Promotion: Challenges of Delivering Care in Rural Areas — A Conversation with Dr. Zainab Dahiru

In this episode of What About Rural Health?, host Chinasa Imo speaks with Dr Zainab Dahiru, a dedicated primary healthcare doctor whose experience serving in Saye Village offers a rare and honest look into the realities of rural healthcare in Nigeria.

Dr. Zainab shares the inspiration behind her work and opens up about the barriers that make health promotion and care delivery incredibly difficult in remote communities — from understaffed facilities to transportation challenges and resource limitations.

S...

Duration: 01:11:55

In this episode, we sit with Peterson Wachira, a seasoned Clinical Officer, Infectious Disease Expert, and National Chairperson of the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) — and a recipient of the Head of State Commendation Award.

Wachira offers an unfiltered look into Kenya’s health system — breaking it down from Level 1 community centers to Level 6 national hospitals, while highlighting how primary healthcare truly begins at the grassroots.

He discusses:

The crucial distinction between medical officers and clinical officersThe 360° approach to bettering healthcare for both workers and patientsHow systemic failures during Ebola and COVID-19 exposed gaps in...

Duration: 00:51:51

In this second part of our conversation with Idrissa Rogers, a seasoned logistics and supply chain professional with over a decade of experience in humanitarian and development work, we dive deeper into the real challenges and hard truths shaping rural healthcare delivery.

Idrissa sheds light on:
The unpredictability of transport systems and why every logistics plan needs a backup plan.
The cracks within rural healthcare supply chains — from systemic corruption to apathy toward innovation.
The rise of innovative tools like iPads and digital systems transforming field logistics.
And most importantly, the selfless mindset re...

Duration: 00:39:57

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of rural health delivery with Idrissa Rogers, a seasoned logistics and supply chain professional with over a decade of experience in humanitarian and development work.

From poor infrastructure and river-dependent communities to corruption and internal bottlenecks, Idrissa paints a raw and honest picture of what it really takes to deliver essential health supplies to remote areas of Sierra Leone.

He shares how logistics isn’t just about transport — it’s about access, trust, and life itself. Idrissa discusses the importance of local partnerships, the role of transparency in ens...

Duration: 00:30:07

Innovation doesn’t always mean high budgets—it means being human-centred. In this episode, Dr. Eye Ngoa redefines what innovation looks like in rural healthcare, showing how simple, creative approaches can change lives.

From using music therapy to support patients dealing with trauma, depression, and oncology care, to leveraging digital tools and community-driven solutions, Dr. Ngoa highlights how healthcare can be healing, holistic, and deeply human.

We dive into:
How music became a form of therapy inspired by his grandmother.
Why low-cost, people-focused innovation matters more than expensive systems.
The challenges rura...

Duration: 00:37:58

In this powerful episode of What About Rural Health?™, Kingsley Ndoh—Founder of Hurone AI—shares his journey into healthcare innovation and the inspiration behind creating AI tools to tackle cancer care disparities.

Kingsley dives into:
How AI and big data can transform healthcare access for underserved communities
The urgent gap in cancer care between rural and urban areas—from trained professionals to technology access
A live demo of Hurone AI, showcasing its empathetic and patient-centred approach to cancer diagnosis support
Opportunities for investment in AI-driven healthcare models, especially in countries outside the U.S...

Duration: 00:42:40

In this insightful episode of What About Rural Health?™, host Chinasa Imo sits down with Dr. Emily Parker to unpack the often-overlooked role of policy in shaping healthcare access for rural and underserved communities.

Dr. Parker traces the history of healthcare safety nets, explaining how they came to be and why they matter today. She advocates for place-based policy—an approach where governments design interventions using geographical and economic criteria to better serve historically disadvantaged communities.

Together, they explore the complex realities of rural life that policymakers often miss: the absence of social amenities, administrative chal...

Duration: 00:41:55

In this episode of What About Rural Health?™, host, Chinasa Imo, sits down with Dr. Ifeanyi M. Nsofor—a renowned public health physician, global health equity advocate, and leading voice in African health policy, I call him Ichie Public Health for a reason. We explore what it truly means to design public health systems that reach everyone. Listeners will hear Dr. Nsofor’s powerful insights on breaking down barriers to rural health, lessons from his VITAL project in Nigeria boosting vaccine uptake, and how behavioral science and storytelling can drive systemic change and discover the real barriers rural populations face—a...

Duration: 00:42:51

Episode 2 – Continuing the Conversation with Dr. John Joe Schlichtman

In Part Two of our powerful conversation with urban sociologist Dr. John Joe Schlichtman, we pick up right where we left off—deepening the discussion on power, place, and resistance across communities. Together with host Chinasa Imo, Dr. Schlichtman expands on the concept of “just development,” the hidden patterns that shape both urban and rural realities, and how communities can reclaim agency through intentional ABCD design, storytelling, and solidarity.

This episode unpacks fresh perspectives on the interconnectedness of health, policy, and geography—and why rural heal...

Duration: 00:24:21

Guest: Dr. John Joe Schlichtman, Urban Sociologist & Community Ethnographer

In this thought-provoking kickoff episode of What About Rural Health?™, host Chinasa Imo sits down with urban sociologist Dr. John Joe Schlichtman to explore a surprising and powerful question: What can resistance in urban spaces teach us about rural health? Drawing on his acclaimed works Gentrifier, Showroom City, and his upcoming book on Community Fabric, Dr. Schlichtman breaks down how place, power, and policy shape community well-being, whether in the city or the marginal spaces. Together, they dive into what “just development” means across geographies, how communities assert...

Duration: 00:43:56