Some of the Public Health Challenges in Africa with Focus on Nigeria

Prof Anthony Onipede is a renowned Nigerian healthcare professional and academic who has made significant contributions to the field of medicine and medical education. Born on 23/12/1963 in Lagos State, Nigeria, Anthony Onipede grew up with a passion for helping others and a keen interest in the sciences. After completing his secondary education, Dr. Onipede pursued a degree in medicine at the University of Ife now called Obafemi Awolowo University, where he graduated with B.sc (Hons), MBChB, M.Sc. He went on to specialize in Laboratory Medicine (Medical Microbiology) and earned a Board-certified Fellowship from the West African College of Physicians. He was later appointed a consultant physician and professor of medical microbiology at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun-State, Nigeria, respectively. He had postdoctoral training at the Medical Research Council Laboratories, The Gambia and Stanford University, California, USA. He has worked tirelessly to improve healthcare outcomes, particularly in rural areas, and has been instrumental in training and mentoring numerous healthcare professionals. His work has significantly contributed to the field of infectious diseases, particularly in the study of antibiotic resistance and tuberculosis. He has been cited in numerous scholarly articles for his research and has co-authored with various experts in the field of medical microbiology.

In addition to his clinical work, Prof. Onipede has made significant contributions to medical education. He has taught at several universities and has published numerous papers on various medical topics. His research areas and activities include infectious diseases by focusing on the study and treatment of diseases caused by various pathogens, antibiotic resistance by investigating the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, which is a growing concern in the medical community, for example carbapenem resistance and has published papers on the characterization of KPC, NDM, and VIM-type carbapenemases, tuberculosis (TB), a significant part of his work is dedicated to understanding and combating this serious infectious disease and HIV, researching aspects related to the human immunodeficiency virus and its impact on populations.

Prof. Anthony Onipede has been cited for his work on genomic analysis that distinguishes Mycobacterium africanum, the accuracy of pyrazinamide resistance indicating the presence of Mycobacterium bovis, and the carriage of Group B Streptococcus during late pregnancy in Nigeria. He has also contributed to understanding the clinical presentation and outcome of tuberculosis patients infected by M. africanum versus M. tuberculosis, and the bacteriology of open fractures in Nigeria. His scholarly work has been recognized with a notable number of citations, reflecting the impact of his research in the field of medical microbiology. Prof. Onipede is involved in several international projects that highlight his commitment to advancing medical microbiology and infectious disease control globally. He is currently the Chair, ONE HEALTH Team, OAU-IFE.

(aonipede@oauife.edu.ng)