Nigerian doctor, Dr. Cindy Iheanetu, advocates stronger policies and maternal health reform
Public health expert and Nigerian-born physician Dr. Cindy Iheanetu has called for early testing and vaccination at birth as key strategies to curb the spread of Hepatitis B across Nigeria.
In an interview with South-South PUNCH, Iheanetu said Nigeria could become a model for preventive healthcare in Africa with the right policies and partnerships.
“Every life, regardless of geography, deserves a fair chance at good health,” she emphasized.
Her research across 23 African countries has shaped vaccination policies in five nations and led to the creation of a Hepatitis B Birth Dose Toolkit for healthcare workers in low-resource communities.
The U.S.-based physician, who earned her MD from Fujian Medical University, China, said her work with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focuses on infectious diseases and environmental contaminants linked to cancer and infertility.
She also highlighted Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate, calling for data-driven maternal care, improved family planning access, and youth-focused reproductive health programs.
Her Teen Drive Program, first implemented in the U.S. to reduce teenage pregnancy by 40%, she said, could also succeed in Nigerian schools.
Dr. Iheanetu urged collaboration between Nigerian universities, government agencies, and global health institutions to strengthen disease surveillance and public health education.
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