Africa Within Podcast

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Every blood donation has the power to save lives, but what happens after someone donates blood?

In this episode of the Africa Within Podcast, host Nontobeko Mlambo speaks with Mr. Neo Molusi, Director & External Affairs Lead at Roche Diagnostics, about the often-overlooked journey of donated blood and the critical role laboratories play in ensuring every unit is safe before it reaches a patient.

Recorded in recognition of World Blood Donor Day, this conversation explores why blood safety depends on far more than generous donors. Across Africa, blood services are under increasing pressure from rising demand, limited resources, and the need to screen blood for infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis.

Mr. Molusi explains how advanced diagnostic technologies, including molecular testing, are helping to detect infections earlier, improve transfusion safety, and strengthen healthcare systems across the continent. The discussion also highlights why investing in laboratory infrastructure, workforce training, and integrated diagnostic platforms is essential to building resilient and trusted blood services.

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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Water is one of our most essential resources, yet millions of South Africans face recurring water shortages, ageing infrastructure, pollution, and growing concerns about water security.

In this episode of Africa Within, host Nontobeko Mlambo sits down with Professor Anja du Plessis, a Research Specialist in Water Resource Management, to unpack the realities behind South Africa's water challenges and what they mean for ordinary citizens.

Professor du Plessis shares valuable insights into the current state of South Africa's water resources, offering practical perspectives on how emerging technologies and improved governance can help address one of the country's most pressing challenges.

 #AfricaWithin #WaterCrisis #SouthAfrica #WaterSecurity #ClimateChange #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #WaterManagement #PublicHealth #Sustainability #Africa #Podcast 

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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This Mental Health Awareness Month, we explore how technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping mental health support across Africa.

On this episode of the Africa Within Podcast, we are joined by Ridwan Oyenuga, an artificial intelligence specialist, full-stack software engineer, and founder of SereniMind, a groundbreaking platform that has impacted more than 300,000 people across the continent.

Recognised by global institutions for using technology to solve real-world challenges, Ridwan shares how AI-powered tools are helping make mental wellness support more accessible, stigma-free, and community-driven.

We discuss:

• AI and the future of mental healthcare in Africa
• Breaking stigma around mental wellness
• Digital safe spaces and anonymous support communities
• Youth, technology, and emotional well-being
• The inspiration behind SereniMind

SereniMind offers a holistic mental wellness experience through:

• Personalised AI chatbots
• Personalised journaling
• Mood tracking and wellness goals
• Access to licensed professionals
• Anonymous mental health communities
• Curated wellness content

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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In this episode of Africa Within, we sit down with Wendy Pekeur, an activist and co-founder of the Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement—a grassroots organisation that emerged from resistance to farm evictions in Stellenbosch and has since become a powerful force for change across the Western, Northern, and Eastern Cape.

Since 2014, Ubuntu has been at the forefront of amplifying the voices of rural women and youth, building leadership, and addressing the deep inequalities that shape life in marginalised communities. Their work addresses critical gaps in access to justice and gender-based violence (GBV) services, advocates for safer working conditions, and champions community rights. This speaks to the realities often overlooked in national discussions.

In this conversation, we unpack what grassroots activism truly looks like on the ground, how communities organise and mobilise for change, and why centring women's voices is essential for achieving gender justice, particularly in the face of climate and socio-economic challenges.

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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In this episode of the Africa Within Podcast, we speak with Dr. Dille Mahamadou Issimouha, Technical Officer for Cancer Control at the World Health Organization's Africa Region, to discuss Africa's efforts to eliminate cervical cancer, one of the most preventable yet deadly cancers affecting women on the continent.

Despite the availability of effective tools for prevention, early detection, and treatment, cervical cancer continues to claim thousands of lives each year in Africa. Dr. Issimouha explains WHO's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, which includes the 90–70–90 targets, and discusses the progress that African countries are making in HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment. We also address the ongoing barriers facing women in low-resource and fragile settings, including access to health services, inequality, and stigma.

Beyond the statistics, this conversation emphasises that the elimination of cervical cancer is not only a health priority but also a matter of women's rights, dignity, and equity. Dr. Issimouha outlines what governments, partners, and communities must do next and explains why eliminating cervical cancer in Africa is both achievable and urgent.

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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In this episode of the Africa Within Podcast, we take you to Dar es Salaam, where the African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) brought together African women leaders, activists, and policymakers to discuss the African Union’s Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG).
The conversation explores what this groundbreaking convention means for Africa, how it can help address femicide and gender-based violence, and why urgent political will is necessary to make it a reality across the continent.

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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In this episode of Africa Within, we sit down with Simone Diouf, the African Union Youth Ambassador for Peace in West Africa, to explore the core of the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) Agenda.

Simone shares her journey as a young peacebuilder and discusses the vital role youth play in conflict prevention and the establishment of sustainable peace. She emphasizes that youth inclusion is not just necessary; it is urgent. From grassroots activism to continental policymaking, this conversation unpacks the progress, challenges, and aspirations for a peaceful future driven by Africa’s youth.

About Ms Diouf

Simone Mbodé Diouf is a young Senegalese woman passionate about gender issues, youth empowerment, peace, and security. She serves as the African Union Youth Ambassador for Peace, representing the West African region. Simone is an international consultant and trainer on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) as well as Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) for various institutions and organizations, including La Francophonie and Senghor University.

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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In this impactful Youth Day episode of The Africa Within Podcast, we chat with Nonhlanhla Siwela, a future doctor dedicated to a present-day mission. As a medical student and passionate advocate, she is already championing better youth health, women's rights, and improved access to healthcare in South Africa.

We discuss:
-  Her journey into medicine
- The challenges young people face in accessing healthcare
- Mental health and gender-based violence
- The power of youth-led advocacy

About Nonhlanhla Siwela

Nonhlanhla Siwela, also known as “A Young Poet’s Mind,” is a multi-talented storyteller from South Africa. Currently studying medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, she expertly balances rigorous academics with her commitment to social justice and creative expression.

As the host of her own podcast (title TBD), Nonhlanhla explores critical youth issues, healthcare access, gender-based violence, and mental wellness, amplifying voices often left unheard. Her advocacy extends to social media, where she critiques policies like the NHI Bill and pushes for accountable and equitable solutions for South African communities.

She authored and self-published a powerful poetry anthology, The Rainbow Nation is Black, released in 2021 and expanded in a deluxe edition in 2023. Her work confronts themes of identity, race, patriarchy, and trauma. In “Our Boys,” she challenges the emotional suppression of Black men; in “Bring Back Our Girls/Uyinene Is Not Dead,” she addresses the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence; and in “I Wish,” she reflects on the pain of suppressing one’s cultural identity.

Nonhlanhla’s poetry has incited real-world change. Following the Uyinene Mrwetyana tragedy, she organized silent protests at her high school, and her poem “Uyinene Is Not Dead” became part of school assemblies across KwaZulu-Natal.

Beyond words, she speaks at events and on social platforms, fostering conversations that connect medicine, poetry, and youth empowerment. With each spoken word and every online post, she lights the path for a generation hungry for equity and expression.

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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In this episode, we sit down with two inspiring Kenyan journalists to explore the challenges and opportunities that African journalists face when reporting on climate change.

Malemba Mkongo is a multi-award-winning journalist based in Kenya, driven by her mantra to make a difference in the world through her writing. Her reporting focuses on human rights, gender, and social justice, covering issues across East and South Africa.

Dennis Aseto is a news anchor for KTN NEWS and KTN HOME , and he also delivers news for the Standard Group's SPICE FM and VYBEZ RADIO. He has been covering climate issues for several years.

This conversation highlights the challenges of navigating limited resources and emphasizes the importance of amplifying local climate stories, showcasing the power and potential of African media in the fight against climate change.

We want to extend our special thanks to the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) for the opportunity to participate in the Journalist Training on Gender-Responsive Reporting on Climate Justice, which took place in Dar es Salaam. This conversation is a result of that training.

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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Join us on the Africa Within Podcast as we commemorate World Malaria Day with an impactful conversation about malaria eradication in Africa.

Our guest, Dr. Olusola Oresanya, Senior Country Technical Coordinator at Malaria Consortium Nigeria, shares valuable insights on the progress, challenges, and innovations shaping Africa’s fight to end malaria.

From prevention strategies to community-led interventions, this episode emphasizes the urgency and hope in the journey toward a malaria-free Africa.

A special thanks to Sethekele Ncube for producing this episode.

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