The primary black feminine Commissioner of the Chicago Division of Public Well being, Dr Olusimbo Ige, speaks with GODFREY GEORGE AND OGHENOVO EGODO-MICHAEL about her profession and different points
Can you share with us your adolescence in Nigeria and what impressed you to pursue a profession in public well being?
I used to be born and raised in Ibadan, Oyo State. My father was a lecturer on the College of Ibadan, whereas my mom was a principal. I grew up within the educational neighborhood and we lived on the college campus however we had been very uncovered to the realities round us. I grew up in a household of about 15 – 20 individuals as a result of most of the individuals from our village who wished to go to highschool needed to dwell in our house. I obtained uncovered to the fact of individuals searching for healthcare despite the fact that they might not afford it. In my household, we had a variety of individuals with Sickle Cell illness who we misplaced even at a young age. I additionally noticed individuals die from typhoid at a really younger age. I used to be thinking about medication due to these experiences. I began my journey on the College Faculty Hospital in Ibadan and once I went for my Youth Service, I realised that prevention is vital. After I arrived at work, there can be over 200 individuals ready, and all of them had been principally sick of preventable sicknesses. I selected public well being as a result of I watched individuals die round me as they couldn’t afford to maintain themselves. In my expertise finding out medication and through my youth service, I noticed individuals who couldn’t afford healthcare die, and that impressed my determination to enter public well being.
What had been probably the most vital challenges you confronted whereas relocating from Nigeria to the US?
The expression of well being points in each nations is totally different. The problems confronted in Nigeria are totally different from these confronted within the US. There are some related issues however many various issues. With the ability to perceive the brand new context is without doubt one of the rapid issues I needed to do. I additionally needed to perceive that folks’s notion of the schooling requirements and the competencies of the overseas medical graduates is all the time a query. I wished to have the ability to distinguish myself as I do know that my academic background is just not inferior to others. Nevertheless, the most important problem is overcoming the very pervasive construction within the US. Individuals of color are sometimes seen as inferior. In case you have an accent or look totally different, individuals simply suppose that you’re much less. So, for a really very long time in my early years, I had plenty of rejection however I spent plenty of time ensuring I had a really stable data of what was taking place round me, in order that once I made choices or suggestions, they had been based mostly on understanding of what’s actually taking place and the extra I used to be capable of do issues that labored, the extra appreciation and respect that I earned. In a short while, individuals began to recognise that I’m a pacesetter that is aware of what I’m doing, and that started to open extra doorways for me.
How did your experiences rising up in such a big household form your perspective on public well being and healthcare supply?
I’m one of many youngest in my household so with the ability to converse up for myself was one thing that my dad and mom inspired, despite the fact that I had siblings that had been approach older. My dad and mom allowed me contribute to points, despite the fact that I used to be younger. I additionally had dad and mom that believed very strongly in schooling and didn’t restrict a lady youngster. My dad and mom believed that despite the fact that you’re a girl, it is best to attain the best degree of schooling, and we had been inspired to be the perfect that we might be and never put ourselves down as a result of we had been girls. Due to my massive household, I used to be uncovered to totally different human beings, so once I got here to New York the place there are such a lot of sorts of individuals, I used to be capable of perceive different cultures and backgrounds. I used to be reminded that my tradition and background is just not the one approach, and that ready me to work in a multi-diverse and multi-cultural workforce.
What motivated you to maneuver overseas and proceed your schooling and profession in the US?
I wished to contribute to determination making and insurance policies. I discovered that in Nigeria, plenty of the work I used to be doing in public well being was decided in the US. The US decided who obtained help. All of the vaccines we obtained had been from the US or a US organisation and typically their view of what ought to occur is just not all the time related to actuality so, I wished to have the ability to carry the attitude of an African to determination making in a rustic that determines what occurs in lots of different nations. I considered what it could be like if somebody from one among these growing nations might be a part of the choice making in these developed nations. After I moved to the US, I used to be working in international well being, supporting organisations in several nations and I might carry my understanding of that to the work. I might additionally carry my very own understanding of the realities of dwelling in a growing nation to the world. I simply wished to be part of the choice making and to have the ability to affect insurance policies globally. I wished the US to have the ability to study from us and know that there might be international studying that may affect issues domestically.
Are you able to describe your journey out of your preliminary roles in public well being to turning into the Commissioner of the Chicago Division of Public Well being?
All these occurred inside 10 years. I began my journey in UCH the place I studied medication and did my internship and home job. Then I did my residency on the Division of Neighborhood Medication. After I completed my research there, I obtained a job with the US Company for Worldwide Improvement as a administration capability constructing officer, so I labored with the Oyo State Division of Well being, and Ministry of Well being to design the malaria programme, and I did that for about 4 years then moved to the US. I moved to the US due to my household. After I moved there, I considered what I might do within the US as an African so, I made a decision to do work associated to malaria. I lived in Nigeria and had labored with malaria for lengthy so, I obtained a job as a senior supervisor for malaria in an organisation known as Encore and inside six months of being in that position, I used to be lucky sufficient to start out appearing as a director, as a result of I might carry concepts of how we might make issues higher. I used to be requested to assist construct a world well being division due to among the concepts that I had apart from tackling malaria. So, I grew to become an govt director there in international ministries and in addition answerable for the work that was taking place in several nations. I then went on to change into a Commissioner Assistant on the New York Metropolis Division of Well being. I had the privilege there through the COVID-19 pandemic to indicate that we might get vaccines to individuals of color and enhance their well being. Afterwards, I went on to change into the Managing Director of Applications at one of many largest philanthropic foundations— Robert Wooden Johnson Basis, and it was whereas I used to be there that I used to be approached with this provide to change into the Commissioner of town of Chicago. That was due to the success I had in working with individuals of color, particularly in black communities, and there are plenty of these individuals in Chicago. So, that was the journey from Nigeria to Chicago
What does it imply to you to be the primary black girl to function commissioner on this position?
It signifies that we must not ever look down on ourselves or suppose that one thing is unattainable or out of attain for us. Ten years in the past, if somebody mentioned I might have been a commissioner, I might have laughed. However, I used to be very obsessed with demonstrating that black individuals might be glorious leaders. We don’t all the time must be followers. I feel that’s what is thrilling to me as a result of it exhibits that as black individuals, even in case you are from a growing nation, you may nonetheless be a pacesetter. I’m glad that I can encourage these coming behind me and encourage them that they are often efficient leaders regardless of the difficulties and challenges round us.
What are among the key initiatives you’ve launched or plan to introduce as Commissioner to enhance public well being in Chicago?
There are some things we’ve began to do. After I began, one of many challenges that we had been dealing with was the migrant disaster. A number of migrants with totally different medical points had been coming to Chicago so, with the ability to reply to that was fairly a process however we’re proud to say we had been capable of management one of many largest measles outbreak within the US on account of the work that we’ve executed. One other instance was once we determined to take a look at the life expectancy for Chicago. The black neighborhood in Chicago doesn’t dwell as lengthy and effectively as the opposite communities in Chicago and we wished to grasp why. We began to see that the opioid overdose disaster is actually impacting the black neighborhood so this summer season, we launched a summer season overdose security marketing campaign, and we did it door-to-door, knocking to get assets and providers to individuals. We’re very proud to say that we’ve seen a drop within the variety of individuals dying of overdose in comparison with final yr and different places the place we didn’t do that intervention.
One other factor is maternal and toddler mortality. We additionally discovered that in Chicago, black individuals die from pregnancy-related points at six instances the speed in comparison with different racial teams, and we wished to search out out why. Now, we’re intensifying our house visitation programmes to make sure that we’re assembly those that have the next danger of problems at house and never requesting them to come back to the hospital, in addition to ensuring we are able to display screen them correctly. We’re additionally taking a look at HIV. We’ve lower than 600 instances however we additionally see that those that are most certainly growing and dying from HIV are principally black individuals and we’re already engaged on getting that to zero HIV instances by 2030. That requires us utilizing a unique method coping with the black neighborhood and ensuring they’ve data and satisfactory assets in coping with HIV. These are among the initiatives that impression the black and Latino neighborhood, and what we’re doing to resolve them.
What position do you suppose public well being leaders ought to play in addressing systemic racism and well being disparities?
I feel we must always acknowledge that it’s laborious for individuals who have been in energy to only voluntarily surrender that energy, and it’s simpler for us to reveal the worth of shared management and energy. We aren’t asking individuals to deal with individuals of color in the neighborhood higher however to deal with everybody higher. There are lots of black individuals who gained medals within the Olympics as a result of that they had an enabling setting to thrive and due to that, they’ve change into a delight to the US. If everybody can obtain their full potential, the US can be higher for it and all of us can be contributing in good methods thereby, highlighting the advantages of a various thriving neighborhood that might make the US a greater nation.
In what methods do you suppose your background as a Nigerian and an immigrant has influenced your management fashion?
It’s typically mentioned that ‘Nigerians don’t carry final’. We all the time have the encouragement to do the perfect that we are able to. Many individuals suppose that Nigerians are aggressive and aggressive. I feel that Nigerians are educated to be the perfect that they are often, so we aren’t competing with anybody however ourselves. I feel that’s one cute factor about Nigerians. Nigerians are some of the educated immigrants within the US. We do very well right here and I’m very pleased with that. Nigerians actually admire and spend money on schooling and I feel that places us in good standing wherever we go.
Lastly, we’re a communal individuals the place all people who’s doing effectively is eager about serving to the neighborhood and different individuals. We’ve a tradition of looking for each other, and people are values which have helped me on this position.
How do you keep related to your roots in Nigeria, and what do you miss most in regards to the nation?
My household, together with my dad and mom and siblings, are in Nigeria. I nonetheless have households in Nigeria and I keep related to them by visiting periodically. What I actually miss probably the most about Nigeria is the meals. I even have a really big community of buddies and colleagues again in Nigeria that assist me keep up to date with what is occurring.
What are your ideas on the present public well being and financial challenges in Nigeria?
We all the time need to get our priorities proper. Most of the issues we prioritise are usually not the issues that might assist with the development of the economic system and the nation. We have to additionally redefine the position of the federal government within the lives of the individuals. We’ve many people who find themselves consultants and professionals however even once we come again to Nigeria and say we need to carry our experience, we don’t get help. We additionally don’t spend our cash on vital issues like schooling and well being. With out infrastructure, issues are laborious. When there was Ebola, there have been many professionals who knew what to do to manage it. If there’s Mpox, there are a lot of individuals who know what to do to manage it however the experience doesn’t matter when there aren’t any assets to do the work.
Do you’ve any plans or initiatives geared toward enhancing public well being in Nigeria, given your experience and expertise?
What is actually on prime of my thoughts is how we are able to empower the subsequent technology of public well being and medical professionals in Nigeria to thrive. It’s a little difficult when one is within the US and inspiring individuals to do higher in Nigeria, particularly as all people desires to japa proper now, and I don’t blame them. Nevertheless, I feel that if there are methods we are able to help the brand new technology of medical professionals in Nigeria to enhance their abilities and data, that might be the house I need to do extra. There are lots of Nigerians right here who’re prepared to do issues at house however their main limitation is safety issues and collaboration.
What recommendation would you give to younger Nigerian girls aspiring to management roles in public well being or different fields?
My recommendation to individuals going into medication, particularly girls, is to watch out who they marry. The help of your future in medication depends upon who you marry. It may be very difficult in case you don’t have an understanding partner. Many ladies don’t get to their full potential as a result of their spouses snuff out their fireplace. As girls, we must always perceive that we might be moms and wives and nonetheless be professionals. Those that are in management must also be prepared to assist those that are coming behind them as a result of all of us need assistance. Generally, it takes a village, however girls may also be leaders wherever they’re and in no matter methods they resolve to be.
What have been probably the most rewarding moments in your profession up to now and the way have you ever been capable of deal with setbacks?
I might say one among my most rewarding moments was once I was with international ministries and we had an initiative to achieve a million kids for an intervention throughout 50 nations in Africa and Asia. After we obtained to 1 million, it was probably the most rewarding expertise, as a result of once we began, it appeared like an unattainable dream. It was the spotlight of my profession that we obtained to 1 million kids, as a result of it was to say that we contributed to saving the lives of 1 million kids who would have died earlier than 5 if not for that intervention.
One other time was through the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a testomony to the truth that change is feasible and we can assist save lives. That’s the energy of public well being— that we are able to save lives, and each life is value saving.
How do you unwind?
I’ve a really stunning household. I’ve a incredible husband with two kids and we actually take pleasure in spending time with each other. We go on trip and we like to inform our children tales about Nigeria. Proper now, I attempt to train my children the Yoruba proverbs and Nigerian tradition, together with how we had tales by moonlight once we had been younger. We take pleasure in these moments collectively and taking holidays however we additionally benefit from the little issues of life. Simply taking a stroll all the way down to go and go to members of the family is an efficient technique to unwind. We love music, films and exploring totally different sorts of meals.
What’s your favorite sort of meals?
I take pleasure in consuming rice and beans as a result of I grew up as a twin. I even take pleasure in it higher once I eat the rice and beans with ayamase stew
How would you describe your trend sense?
I feel Nigerians are very fashionable individuals. Within the US, persons are so informal however you may by no means catch me in denims and sneakers at work. I take pleasure in dressing up and displaying up wanting good. Most instances when individuals see us as Nigerians, they suppose we’re displaying off, however we similar to to look good.