While no corner of the world has remained untouched by COVID-19, battling the pandemic is particularly challenging in resource-limited settings. In this session, learn how African countries are leveraging local and global technology and expertise to fight COVID-19. Hear about a Nigerian-American partnership that is using 3D printers to scale up personal protective equipment (PPE) production for African healthcare workers. Meet two leaders—one from a multinational pharmaceutical company, and one from a global engineering powerhouse—who are spearheading initiatives to catalyze innovative Africa-centric solutions to the pandemic. Listen to a scientist from the Rwandan Ministry of Health discuss her government’s technology-driven response to COVID-19—a response that has been heralded as a success story in the international press.
Moderator: Jennifer Dent, President & CEO, BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH)
Featuring:
- Dr. Shola Odusanya, Center Leader, Pan African Materials Institute – Activating local capabilities to fill Nigeria’s critical healthcare needs using 3D printers
- Prof. Wole Soboyejo, Provost, Worcester Polytechnic Institute – Building on partnerships and innovation to respond to the pandemic in Africa
- Dr. Freddy Nguyen, Co-Director, MIT COVID-19 Challenge & Research Fellow, MIT Innovation Initiative – Hacking – COVID-19: catalyzing Africa-centric solutions to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
- Ms. Noella Bigirimana, Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Ministry of Health Harnessing – Rwanda’s innovation and leadership to address COVID-19
- Ms. Magda Schoeneich, Head, Center for Scientific Leadership and Innovation, R&D, Takeda – Combining arts, science, and partnering to power up digital healthcare transformation
