Born six weeks early into a life of access and privilege, Adaeze’s journey which began with a dream of becoming a pioneering cardiologist, quickly evolved into a purpose-driven mission in public health. From witnessing disparities in healthcare as a medical student to battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, her experiences shaped her into a relentless advocate for equitable & accessible healthcare. Now serving in a position to influence policies, she shares insights on the urgent need for systemic reform, the power of advocacy, and why everyone must collectively move the needle to drive healthcare access and responsible public investment in healthcare. Dr. Adaeze Oreh is a Consultant Family Physician, Public Health Specialist, and the Honourable Commissioner for Health in Rivers State. Prior to her appointment, she was the Pioneer Country Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics for Nigeria’s National Blood Service Commission (NBSC), and a Senior Health Policy Advisor with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health with over two decades of private and public healthcare experience.She is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme, the Aspen Institute, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Royal Society of Public Health, and a Member of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood Global Advisory Group and the International Society of Blood Transfusion COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Working Group. She advocates for respectful, quality healthcare, health equity, universal health coverage, and quality medical education, and was invited to speak at the 74th UNGA. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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