Where are you from?

I was born in Ghana and later moved to Nigeria. My family then returned to the UK, and I have lived in various places (including back in Ghana). I currently live just outside Bath.

What is your role at LSHTM and what does it involve?

I am currently Co-Director of the Maternal Adolescent Reproductive and Child Health (MARCH) Centre and Professor in Health Policy, Systems and Reproductive Health. I teach a variety of sessions on the Population Studies Group's MScs (Demography and Health; Reproductive and Sexual Health Research) and I am involved in a variety of modules for Global Health Policy (by Distance Learning). I am also part of the core development team (with other MARCH members) for an exciting new MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy and Programming developed jointly with the University of Ghana. I supervise research degree students and am adjunct Professor at Njala University, Sierra Leone.

I joined LSHTM in 2001 after three years at the Nuffield Institute for Health, University of Leeds, for whom I continued in a joint appointment until 2003. Until 2012 I was in the Centre for Population Studies (EPH), then moved to the Department of Global Health and Development in the Faculty of Public Health and Policy. From 2015-2018 I was head of the Department of Global Health and Development, having previously been head of the Anthropology, Policy and Politics Group in that Department.

Tell us about a project you’re currently working on?

My current work is primarily in West and East Africa where I am leading NIHR funded research on cross-sectoral responses to climate and health challenges, including zoonotic outbreaks, with a focus on community engagement.

I recently wrote a blog on the Healthy wetlands for the cranes and people of Rukiga, Uganda project, which I lead the research component of. It examines the interconnections between environmental and human health, focusing on the impacts of the climate crisis on women and families in the wetland area of Rukiga, Uganda. LSHTM is conducting research to support the development of community-responsive programmes to tackle livelihoods and health issues holistically. I highlighted the importance of research like this when I spoke at a couple of events at COP26.

With colleagues at the School, I’ve written several papers on the links between climate and maternal, newborn and child health, including exploring the pathways between natural disasters and violence against children, the challenges of working in the heat whilst pregnant in The Gambia and the relevance of sexual and reproductive health and rights for sustainable development.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

I’ve been inspired by lots of people – my parents, for their integrity and their love of Africa; the students and early-career staff who I work with, all of whom seem to have a much clearer and greater vision than I did when I was starting my career; and probably most of all I am inspired by the people I have worked with and met during my research – the dedication of health-workers delivering care against the most formidable odds, the mothers striving to give their children the opportunities they themselves never had. These are the people who keep me going in my quest to help make their lives a little easier.

What would it surprise people to know about you?

I have won awards for acting and have performed in some of London’s well-known fringe venues (Blue Elephant; Menier Chocolate Factory and others). I have also sung in some of London’s biggest concert venues with the London Concert Choir.

When I am not working I am…

… in our garden, being privileged to have a rather large one in the country (since I no longer live in London), not that I’m much of a gardener so ours is very much a wildlife garden – my bit towards protecting the environment and ecological diversity!

What is your favourite book?

I love books so it’s hard to pick a favourite. A couple of powerful reads that stick with me are The Zanzibar Chest by Aiden Hartley and All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr both of which spoke to me on many levels.

What is your favourite place?

After globe-trotting for most of my life (I remember flying as small child on long-haul flights which still allowed smoking on board!) I would have to say that I have become quite boring, and my favourite place now is home with my family (yes, even after all the lockdowns).

Three words to describe yourself

Kind, listening, surprising … but answering this question always risks that you seem arrogant about yourself or totally ignorant of how others see you!