Echoes Of Evidence Podcast cover art

Echoes Of Evidence Podcast

Echoes Of Evidence Podcast

Written by: Science for Africa Foundation
Listen for free

About this listen

 Welcome to Echoes of Evidence — a podcast by the Science for Africa Foundation. This podcast series shines a spotlight on health, climate, agricultural research, as well as topical and emerging issues shaping science and innovation on the continent and beyond. In each episode, we explore how African scientists are tackling some of the planet’s most urgent challenges—from climate resilience and public health to renewable energy and AI innovation.

By fostering dialogue between scientists, policymakers, and the public, Echoes Of Evidence strengthens science literacy and contributes to evidence-based decision-making for Africa’s future.

To find out more about our work please visit our website https://scienceforafrica.foundation/.
You can also follow us on our social media platforms below:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scienceforafricafoundation/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/scienceforafricafoundation/
Flckr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/193248696@N07/with/54555689874
X: https://x.com/SciforAfrica
Science For Africa Foundation Science
Episodes
  • Rethinking Mental Health in Africa: Beyond Labels and Diagnoses

    Rethinking Mental Health in Africa: Beyond Labels and Diagnoses
    Nov 11 2025
    In this episode of the Echoes of Evidence podcast, co-hosts Dr Evelyn Gitau and Lillian Mutengu sit down with Prof Dixon Chibanda, psychiatrist and founder of the Friendship Bench, and Constance Mabia, a passionate mental health advocate, to unpack how we talk about and respond to mental health in Africa.
    Prof Chibanda challenges conventional approaches to diagnosis, questioning the over-medicalization of human suffering. He calls for a more compassionate, community-centered model—one that values conversation, empathy, and understanding over clinical labels. Constance Mabia brings the lived experience of navigating mental health challenges in African contexts, highlighting the power of dialogue, connection, and culturally grounded care.
    Show More Show Less
    47 mins
  • HIV Cure, Close to Reality? With Prof Thumbi Ndung'u and Shally Achieng

    HIV Cure, Close to Reality? With Prof Thumbi Ndung'u and Shally Achieng
    Nov 11 2025
    What would it mean for the world, and for Africa, if an HIV cure were within reach? In this episode of Echoes of Evidence, Prof. Thumbi Ndung’u, Programme Director, Sub-Saharan African Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE) and also Director of Basic and Translational Science at the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), joins Shally Achieng, a passionate HIV advocate with lived experience, to explore the science, hope, and humanity behind the global search for an HIV cure.

    The conversation unpacks the latest scientific advances, the realities of living with HIV, and the societal barriers that continue to shape Africa’s response to the epidemic. Together, they explore: — How close the world is to finding an HIV cure — The importance of African-led research and collaboration — Why stigma remains one of the biggest obstacles to progress — What a “functional cure” could mean for people living with HIV
    Show More Show Less
    57 mins
  • Misconceptions in Vaccine Research with Prof Omu Anzala

    Misconceptions in Vaccine Research with Prof Omu Anzala
    Oct 8 2025
    In this episode of Echoes of Evidence, hosts Lillian Mutengu and Dr. Evelyn Gitau sit down with Prof. Omu Anzala, founder and first director of the KAVI Institute of Clinical Research at the University of Nairobi, to unpack the misconceptions and misinformation surrounding vaccine research and development. The conversation explores why certain misconceptions persist, how misinformation takes hold, and what it takes to separate fact from narrative in an age where falsehoods spread faster than ever. Prof. Anzala also reflects on how African communities can navigate these gray zones, how scientists respond when disagreements arise, and the strategies needed to build clarity and trust in science.
    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
No reviews yet