Episode Ten: Community Response to Disease: A Conversation with Dr Lawrence Sao Babawoa

The podcast series “African Voices, African Arguments” features African scholars, writers, policy makers and activists on issues of peace, justice and democracy, and is produced by World Peace Foundation and presented in partnership with African Arguments and The Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts University.

In Episode 10, host Alex de Waal speaks with Dr Lawrence Sao Babawo on the challenges faced by Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis and the lessons learned being applied to Covid-19 responses today.

“This time around the security are there, they are not carrying any guns…in groups where there are civilians they are working together, there is nothing like using guns or force on people and that kind of thing…it is purely very professional."

Listen to Episode Ten: Community Response to Disease: A Conversation with Dr Lawrence Sao Babawoa

Lawrence Sao Babawo is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Community Health Sciences in the Department of Nursing, Njala University. When the Covid-19 pandemic reached Sierra Leone, Lawrence was appointed a member of the Scientific, Technical and Advisory Group for Emergencies (STAGE) on Covid-19 by the President of Sierra Leone.

Alex de Waal is the Executive Director of the World Peace Foundation at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. Considered one of the foremost experts on Sudan and the Horn of Africa, his scholarly work and practice has also probed humanitarian crisis and response, human rights, HIV/AIDS and governance in Africa, and conflict and peace-building.