CNN Profiles Seasoned Obstetrician and Gynecologist

African Voices, a permanent exhibition that examines the diversity, dynamism, and global influence of Africa’s peoples and cultures will be profiling Doctor Bosede Afolabi, a Nigerian obstetrician who has dedicated the best of her time researching and teaching the effect of sickle cell anaemia and helping pregnant women to bring new life into the world.

The seasoned Nigerian-born Bosede Afolabi, a specialist medical practitioner, in a rare interview examining her commitment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital seeing patients, training students and conducting research. Her main priority is to advance the knowledge of sickle cell anaemia, the world’s most common hereditary blood disorder and its effects on pregnant women. The rare interviews which will run in series will debut on Friday, January 31, 2013 on CNN International.

Bosede sits down with Vladimir Duthier, CNN Nigeria Correspondent to recount her experience she speaks about her passion for helping pregnant women by advancing the knowledge of sickle cell anaemia which affects both women and their children before, during and after childbirth and about the cultural perception of the disease with the repeated deaths of children being seen as children dying and coming back from the spirit world.

“Nigeria has one of the largest incidences of sickle cell anaemia in the world but the disease isn’t restricted to people of colour (Africans & African Americans) as is often perceived but the disease is also prevalent around the Mediterranean as well. This is also the same history with the disease and the mutation that occurred as a result of other diseases like malaria which is prevalent in coastal areas” she explains

“Before people can come together to marry, they must identify what blood group they belong. It  doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get married, but at least know that they may have to find out if the children they are bring to this world will be SS. I feel there is a need for continuous efforts to reduce this disease in the world because it doesn’t respect culture or tribe” 

The programme will run on Friday at 08:30 am, on Saturday 03:30 pm, Sunday at 09:00 am and 06:30pm. Monday 11:30 am and 06:30 pm and Tuesday 06:30 am

Dr. Afolabi is a female gynaecologist, and also works as an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as well as a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, in the College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

She had her first degree from OAU, Ife (1992), specialised and worked in the United Kingdom for a total of 8 years in various posts and has a postgraduate doctorate in Medicine (DM) from the University of Nottingham, UK. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UK, the West African College of Surgeons, and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria. She has practised obstetrics and gynaecology for 17 years