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 that GBV cannot be treated as a single issue, but as the outcome of intertwining social, cultural, and economic realities.
Dr. Titilayo introduces the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) model, showing how communities can unlock their own strengths — social networks, informal support systems, and local leadership — to drive sustainable change. She also speaks to the power and resilience of refugees living in rural areas, and why supporting them strengthens entire communities.
On public policy, she emphasises a hard truth: Nigeria doesn’t lack policies; it lacks implementation. Without proper follow-through, the best ideas remain only ideas.
From trauma-informed care to community-driven development, this episode is a reminder that rural health transformation isn’t just about medicine; it’s about people, power, and the systems that connect them.
Want to be a guest on What About Rural Health?™? Send Chinasa Imo a message on PodMatch, here: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1762029634065133df1c28412
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.
She highlights the most common diseases affecting rural populations, and how stigma, deeply rooted cultural beliefs, and widespread misinformation often stand in the way of timely care. Through her stories, we see how cultural context shapes health behaviours — and why community trust is just as important as medical treatment.
This episode sheds light on what it truly takes to serve rural communities: compassion, cultural sensitivity, and an unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes where it matters most.
Tune in for a powerful, eye-opening conversation about the heart of rural healthcare in Nigeria.
Want to be a guest on What About Rural Health?™? Send Chinasa Imo a message on PodMatch, here: https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1762029634065133df1c28412
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:
Want to be a guest on What About Rural Health?™? Send Chinasa Imo a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1762029634065133df1c28412
Listen to this powerful conversation on the realities, lessons, and hope within Kenya’s healthcare system.
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 required to truly thrive in health logistics.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about health systems, logistics, innovation, and impact work in underserved communities.
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#RuralHealth #Logistics #HealthcareInnovation #WARHPodcast #WhatAboutRuralHealth #PublicHealth #HumanitarianWork
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 ensuring successful delivery, and introduces the RED ROSE system — a digital tool used by UNICEF to onboard beneficiaries and ensure accountability in distributing malaria relief materials.
This conversation opens our eyes to the unsung heroes of rural health — the logisticians, field coordinators, and partners who make access possible, one shipment at a time.
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 rural communities face in healthcare infrastructure—electricity, internet connectivity, and policy barriers.
The power of social media in amplifying rural health stories, building communities, and shaping healthcare narratives.
Ethics in digital health—fact-checking data, protecting patient privacy, and ensuring inclusive, culturally sensitive communication.
This episode is a timely reminder that rural health innovation is not just about technology—it’s about humanity, culture, and equity.
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.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, tech enthusiast, or advocate for equity in care, this episode offers a fascinating look at how technology can bridge critical gaps and bring life-saving solutions to rural communities worldwide.
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 challenges, and the ripple effects these gaps have on healthcare delivery. Dr. Parker also highlights the urgent need for raising awareness around rights and entitlements, especially for immigrant populations who are frequently left behind.
The episode closes with a powerful call for telehealth innovation, stressing that improved internet access and digital tools could transform healthcare delivery for rural communities worldwide.
Whether you’re a policymaker, healthcare professional, or advocate, this episode will challenge your assumptions and broaden your perspective on rural health equity.
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—and the innovative solutions breaking them down. Expect a blend of expert analysis, compelling stories from the field, and practical takeaways and real-world lessons on how to translate policy into practice. This episode embodies the WARH?™ series: bold, rooted in community, and committed to elevating the voices and solutions that global health can no longer afford to overlook. Whether you’re a health professional, policymaker, or curious listener, this episode invites you to join a global movement for equity—starting from the margins, together.
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 health deserves a reimagined narrative rooted in dignity and equity. If you’re ready to explore what community care truly means, don’t miss this follow-up.
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 power through resistance, and why asset-based, people-centered frameworks matter for rural health equity.
Expect deep analysis, respectful disagreements, powerful storytelling, and a fresh, justice-centered lens on rural health. Whether you're an urban or rural planner, health practitioner, student, or advocate, this episode will challenge assumptions and offer new ways of thinking about community and care.