Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo, founder of African Health Now sits down with AFKInsider to discuss her role in Africa’s healthcare landscape. Stemming from the outcome of her father’s run-in with a major health scare while on the continent, the organization flourished from a one-day health fair. In the final part of the interview, Eyeson-Akiwowo expands on how health issues on the continent have changed. She also talks about politics and what it will take for healthcare to improve.

“I think the one thing that people have missed or [what’s] not being shared on a larger scale about healthcare in Africa is that everyone thinks and looks at Africa as malaria and AIDS,” Eyeson-Akiwowo said. “That’s where everyone is focusing their efforts, but in actuality — as of last year — the World health Organization said that by 2030, noncommunicable diseases will be the number one killer of Africans.”

“Africans as a whole have changed. Now issues that never plagued us or weren’t a concern are now bigger concerns for us. Diabetes, hypertension, cancer; those issues are now our issues the same way they are issues for African-Americans in the States.”