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St. Jude and World Health Organization are creating a platform that will transform access to childhood cancer medicines around the world.
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Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Program
Other Regional Programs:
Nearly a quarter of the world’s children, ages 0–14, live in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is also one of the world’s most resource-limited settings.
Established in late 2017, the St. Jude Global Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Program marked the institution’s first project in the region. The goal of expanding capacity to treat and manage childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa closely aligns with the St. Jude core mission of ensuring that no child dies in the dawn of life.
Regional Initiatives
Although the Sub-Saharan Africa program is the newest regional program within St. Jude Global, growth in the region has been rapid thanks to collaborations with local partners.
The program’s mission, vision and values align with those of St. Jude Global. The region's member institutions work with intention, guided by four values that are specific to the Sub-Saharan Africa regional program.
- We work only where partners invite us to collaborate. The region is large enough that we will work only where there is local political will to collaborate.
- We identify common opportunities with partners that align with each other’s goals. This is critical because we view our collaborators’ needs as paramount and as a critical guide to our efforts.
- We commit to not fracturing health systems or existing collaboration groups. The neocolonialization of healthcare in Africa is a public health threat. In recognition of that reality, we are intentional in our approach of working inclusively with governments and state actors, whenever possible, to further care for childhood cancer at a national level.
- We are open to collaboration with all stakeholders. This includes local care teams, nongovernmental groups and external collaborators, including partners from other high-income countries. The scope of this work is extraordinarily large. Only by working inclusively and transparently, respecting one another’s contributions, can we make progress.
Based on these values, the program has developed close partnerships with hospitals, ministries of health, foundations and World Health Organization country offices, in 10 countries. The first partnerships were formed in Zimbabwe and Zambia, but now exist in Mozambique, South Africa, Cameroon, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda and Nigeria. Importantly, although our initial focus has been directed at childhood cancer, we are now also committed to supporting our hematology transversal unit and regional colleagues in addressing nonmalignant hematologic conditions, such as sickle cell disease, at a population level.
Our Team
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Nickhill Bhakta, MD, MPH
Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty
Director, Sub-Saharan Africa Region, St. Jude Global
Director, Disease Burden and Simulation
Co-Director, ARIA Program
Nickhill Bhakta, MD, MPH
Associate Member, St. Jude Faculty
Director, Sub-Saharan Africa Region, St. Jude Global
Director, Disease Burden and Simulation
Co-Director, ARIA Program
Affiliations
Research Interests
- Disease burden estimation, decision analysis, global epidemiology of childhood cancer
- Prioritization and the cost-effectiveness of childhood cancer treatment in low and middle income countries
- Pediatric leukemia, cancer survivorship
Contact Information
Nickhill Bhakta, MD, MPH
Global Pediatric Medicine
MS 721, Room S2013
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Ayomide (Ayo) Omotola
Program Manager, Sub-Saharan African Regional Program
Affiliations
Short Biography
Ayomide (Ayo) Omotola serves as the program manager for the Sub-Saharan African Regional Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, specializing in the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine.
Her primary focus is on enhancing healthcare capacity in Africa, with a specific emphasis on improving outcomes for childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Ayo's approach is characterized by a strong commitment to effective collaboration driven by the resilience and dedication of her team and regional partners, contributing to the collective growth of the region.
Throughout her career, Ayo has been a dedicated advocate for maternal and child health, with expertise spanning areas such as nutrition, reproductive health (teens), child psychiatry, and her current focus on childhood cancer. Her decision to join St. Jude is deeply rooted in a mission-driven connection, propelled by a genuine desire to improve children's outcomes and a passion for equity. She brings a commitment to advancing treatment for children with catastrophic diseases, embracing the challenge of creating a brighter tomorrow and fostering a collaborative spirit.
In her role, she concentrates on expanding reach and impact in the region and beyond, guided by her dedication to equity and children's well-being.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Ayo enjoys exploring diverse interests, including photography, DIY projects, continuous learning, cooking, and travel adventures. As she embarks on this exciting journey with St. Jude, Ayo's go-getter attitude, passion, and dedication are poised to make a meaningful and lasting impact on childhood cancer care in the region.
Contact Information
Ayomide (Ayo) Omotola
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
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Lily Johnson
Program Specialist, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Program
Affiliations
Short Biography
Lily Johnson is a Program Specialist, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Program for the department of Global Pediatric Medicine.
With over 8 years of experience working across diverse global health projects, Lily is thrilled to join the Department of Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She has a background in both Public Health and Medical Anthropology, with a focus on eradicating health disparities.
Lily previously worked at the Community Alliance for the Homeless, where she developed training resources for the organization's webpage and advocated for political, social, and economic policies and programs that will improve health and well-being across target populations.
As a lifelong Memphian, Lily is thrilled to find a role with a global focus that simultaneously keeps her close to friends and family at home. Outside of work, Lily spends most of her time staying active whether it is practicing yoga, cycling with her husband, or walking their two dogs.
Contact Information
Lily Johnson
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
262 Danny Thomas Place
Memphis, TN 38105-3678
