From “Your Turn to Suffer” to Shared Abundance: One More Reason to Build Self-Reliant Health Systems in Africa

Edward Oladele

December 17, 2025 |

5 mins

On a recent journey, I sat with colleagues to look back at the disruptions they had experienced in 2025. In the lighthearted, yet profound discussions, one phrase captured a deeper undercurrent. It is phrase you may not have read elsewhere: “Good for you, it is your turn to suffer now.”

This was reportedly directed at laid-off local staff of international NGOs who, during periods of abundant funding, had lived in relative financial comfort and become de facto benefactors for extended families and communities—a form of “Black Tax” that was never fully sustainable and could never meet every demand. They were high flyers.

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Harnessing the African Diaspora and Private Sector for Health Innovation and Financing - Event Brief

November 12, 2025 |

7 mins

The African diaspora contributes over USD 90 billion annually in remittances and holds vast reservoirs of intellectual capital, entrepreneurship, and global expertise. Yet this catalytic potential remains under-leveraged as a driver of Africa’s health transformation. At the same time, the continent faces a USD 12 billion health financing gap amid declining donor aid—underscoring the urgency of mobilizing Africa’s greatest assets: its people abroad and its dynamic private sector.

This side event, held on the shoulders of the 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) in Durban, South Africa, spotlighted structured opportunities to align diaspora networks and private sector partnerships as powerful forces for Africa’s health systems transformation.

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"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

Edward Oladele

March 24, 2025 |

3 mins

Quotes and wise sayings can be veritable frames of reference. I built this write up on a few of them.

I am reminded of the words of Napoleon Hill - "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." Indeed, while many of us read Think and Grow Rich for nuggets of financial wisdom, there were many concepts that it taught for everyday life.

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"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading" - Lao Tzu

Edward Oladele

April 24, 2025 |

5 mins

In recent times, it has been a past time to consider the applicability of principles that seem so well applied in individual life to public policy. In this article, I urge a collective reimagination of the cornerstone for universal health coverage.

Nearly half a century ago, the Alma-Ata Declaration boldly proclaimed primary health care (PHC) as the key to achieving "Health for All." Its wisdom resonates even more profoundly today, yet the world has undeniably transformed. Technological advancements, demographic shifts, the relentless march of non-

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Policy Brief.

A World of Opportunities - The Case for Reimagining Health

The first roundtable of the series - Seizing the Moment, Africa's Roadmap to Self-Reliant Healthcare held on May 28, 2025 with rich actionable insights for the African continent. This policy brief when published will distill these insights into action-oriented nuggets for policymakers.

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Policy Brief.

More Health for the Money - Achieving Efficiency and Impact

The second roundtable of the series - Seizing the Moment, Africa's Roadmap to Self-Reliant Healthcare held on June 25, 2025 with rich actionable insights for the African continent. This policy brief when published will distill these insights into action-oriented nuggets for policymakers.

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Policy Brief.

More Money for Health - Mobilizing Sustainable Financing

The third roundtable of the series - Seizing the Moment, Africa's Roadmap to Self-Reliant Healthcare held on July 30, 2025 with rich actionable insights for the African continent. This policy brief when published will distill these insights into action-oriented nuggets for policymakers.

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Policy Brief.

Governance, Leadership and the Path Ahead

The final roundtable of the series - Seizing the Moment, Africa's Roadmap to Self-Reliant Healthcare held on August 27, 2025 with rich actionable insights for the African continent. This policy brief when published will distill these insights into action-oriented nuggets for policymakers.

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