Emeka Okafor

My name is Emeka Okafor. I am a trained Pharmacists and a Public health expert working in Nigeria. I served as a Chief of party for the IntegratE project, a project to expand access to family planning services through the private sector drug shops and pharmacies. It inspired me to advocate for a more inclusive health system.

Access to modern contraceptive methods for Nigeria’s rural communities

During my work, I gained insight into the huge disparities that exist in Nigeria’s health system, especially in the rural communities. I observed that a lot of women desire to space their children’s birth. However, they lacked access to both trained providers and modern contraceptive methods. This has inspired me to advocate for an inclusive health system that works for everybody irrespective of where they live.

Evidence gathering to influence policies and programmes

I hope to further develop my skills in analysing health systems, developing a research agenda that will lead to evidence generation to advocate for policies and improve programs.

Looking ahead, I hope to continue to advocate for the inclusion of the private sector into the formal health sector, reduce inequalities and address the challenges faced by those in rural communities.