When Help Hurts: Medical Exploitation and Distrust in East Africa
Medical mistrust is a lack of confidence in healthcare systems, professionals, and research, often rooted in fear that these systems may not act in a person’s best interest. This mistrust arises from real experiences of discrimination, neglect, and unethical practices. While the Tuskegee Syphilis Study in the U.S. is a well-known example, East Africa also faces its own history of medical exploitation. Colonial abuses, exclusion from healthcare decisions, and violations of consent have deepened scepticism.
The State of Sex Education in East Africa: Between Silence, Stigma and Survival
Across East Africa, sex education remains a deeply contested issue. Governments in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania have introduced various policies intended to equip young people with knowledge about their sexual and reproductive health.
Unpacking the Demographic Dividend: Unlocking East Africa’s Potential Through Healthcare and Education
East Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its development trajectory, with its youthful population presenting both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity to unlock a demographic dividend.
Diseases and Defects: The Role of Genetics in Medicine
Genetics, a vital branch of biology, focuses on how traits and diseases are transmitted across generations. In the medical context, this field encompasses hereditary conditions and congenital anomalies that arise from specific gene mutations, chromosomal rearrangements, or complex interactions between genes and environmental factors.
Dormitories in Distress: Rethinking Discipline, Safety, and Class in East Africa’s Boarding Schools
In February 2025, Kenya’s Ministry of Education ordered the indefinite closure of a boarding sections of 348 primary schools following a string of violent incidents, including a fire allegedly started by students protesting against poor living conditions. The story made national headlines, but for many parents, teachers, and students, it wasn’t surprising.
COVID Five Years On: Evaluating the Response and the Transformations in Healthcare Since the Pandemic
COVID-19, caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus, emerged as a global pandemic, disrupting societies and economies worldwide. Five years later, East Africa continues to navigate the lasting effects of the crisis, particularly within its healthcare systems. This report evaluates the region’s response, assessing both immediate interventions and long-term transformations.
Rwanda’s Healthcare Revolution: A Blueprint for Universal Coverage in Africa
Imagine needing urgent medical care but hesitating because of the cost. For millions around the world, this is a harsh reality—but in Rwanda, things are different. Before the 1999 reforms, healthcare was largely inaccessible and unaffordable for many. In the wake of the 1994 genocide, the country faced immense challenges, yet it emerged with a vision: healthcare for all.
Chalk & Change: Comparing the Efficacy of Uganda & Kenya's National Curriculums
Education is a powerful force for change - a key tool for social mobility and an experience shared by many. While exam stress and institutional discipline resonate with most learners, it is worth examining the underlying structures that shape educational systems. We must stop to wonder why schooling is structured as it is. Do existing institutional frameworks truly foster equity?
