African Frontline Healthcare Workers Need More Support

1Day Africa is hosting a panel discussion about the difficulties that frontline healthcare workers face. [caption id="attachment_90349" align="alignnone" width="700"] Dr Phionah Atuhebwe will be one of the panelists[/caption]  LUSAKA, ZAMBIA—1Day Africa, the African chapter of the medical volunteer advocacy organization 1Day Sooner, is hosting an online panel of African healthcare workers on November 4th, 1 PM EDT/5 PM GMT/7 PM CAT. In many cases, healthcare workers have been inadequately protected, chronically understaffed, and insufficiently supported.The panelists will discuss their experiences working on the front lines of the pandemic and describe possible avenues of change and solutions to the problems they have seen. Audience members will be able to ask the panelists questions after the discussion. Attendance is free and a registration link can be found here. Panelists Phionah Atuhebwe, Umaru Barrie, and Toba Odumosu are healthcare professionals with great interest in global health and healthcare development. Dr. Atuhebwe is an immunologist coordinating vaccine distribution and uptake in Africa, currently serving as the New Vaccines Introduction Medical Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo. Mr. Barrie is a widely traveled MD/PhD candidate specializing in molecular microbiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Mr. Odumosu is the State Secretary of the Lagos State Council and has been involved in several public health initiatives with different health organizations. 1Day Africa is dedicated to the development of a self-sufficient African medical community. Fundamental to this goal is the well-being of our medical practitioners and frontline healthcare workers. Their dedication and selfless action is an inspiration and the backbone of the medical systems across the continent. The variety in communities across Africa makes the task of providing healthcare particularly daunting, so we aim to leave no healthcare worker behind and give a voice to all who would contribute to this important discussion. 1Day Sooner is a non-profit organization advocating for people who want to participate in high-risk, high-reward medical trials, including COVID-19 challenge trials.