Barriers to Mental Health Care in Africa

Dr. Olukemi Olugbade is a multi-skilled Physician, Public health specialist, and Healthcare industry expert with over 15 years post-qualification experience as a Medical Doctor and 5 years post-training as a Field Epidemiologist and Researcher. 

Her professional background is focused on SDGs 3,5,6, and 9, General Medicine, Public Health, Community Health and Epidemiology with expertise in Public Health Data Analysis, Project Management, integrated diseases surveillance and response (IDSR) for outbreak detection and response, health advocacy and community engagement, maternal, child and adolescent health, reproductive health, occupational health, environmental health, public health nutrition, mental health, infection prevention, and control, antimicrobial stewardship, monitoring & evaluation, scientific communication, research proposals, and grants proposal writing. 

More recently she has developed health technology, digital communications, digital marketing, medical content-writing, and copy-writing skills applied to health-oriented freelancing engagements.

She has vast experience practicing in the Nigerian Healthcare space, working in resource-limited settings, focused on underserved and vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach, urban slums and rural areas.

Over the years, she has provided live-saving affordable care, essential medicines, and vaccinations in these areas, and reduced mortality, morbidity and disability in these populations, whilst also working with stakeholders at all levels of the Nigerian healthcare system including the private sector, in-country, and international development partners to improve accessibility, affordability, availability, and quality of care, thereby contributing to health systems strengthening.

She continuously contributes leadership, interpersonal and technical skills in her work and contracts, and these she has done in several positions. Professional certifications, and achievements she has garnered demonstrate attributes that make her an outstanding public health professional. 

Dr. Olugbade has won several scholarly awards, presented her research findings in several local, regional and international conferences, won research grants, has granted several interviews, spoken at healthcare events, webinars, and seminars and has published in peer-reviewed journals.

She also mentors medical students, early-career epidemiologists and health professionals.