Last year, Zoe Rain joined Integrate Health in Togo to photograph clinic renovations completed by Integrate Health partner Construction for Change with support from the 30/30 Project. While in Togo, Zoe photographed some of the courageous women that Integrate Health serves. From January 19th to the 31st, her photos are on display in New York at the Canisius Gallery at Fordham University. In collaboration with ART WORKS Projects, Fordham’s Global Healthcare Innovation Management Center, and the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University, the “Women of Togo” exhibit showcases how women utilize healthcare in Togo.
To open the exhibit, Integrate Health Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer, Dr. Kevin Fiori was joined by Luwei Pearson, Deputy Director of the Health Programme Division at UNICEF, for a conversation about the social determinants of health in Togo and the ways in which the United States can adapt lessons learned in Togo to improve healthcare closer to home.
Photos by Yanina May Photography
A few notes from the conversation:
-Dr. Fiori started the conversation by highlighting a core component of Integrate Health’s approach: “Collaboration and engagement with community members like Rebecca, a Community Health Worker who lives and works in Kpindi, is essential to the success of our work. Integrate Health’s work is grounded in understanding the needs that come from the community and working with them to solve those issues.”
-When asked about translating lessons learned to a United States context, Dr. Fiori said: “Women like [Community Health Worker] Rebecca are redefining what it means to be a caretaker. The idea that someone will go to your house and ask you how you’re doing and what are you worried about [is new]. Sometimes people are not only looking for care. In the US, I get three minutes with a family; that to me is not healthcare. We have a lot to learn.”
-Ms. Pearson, when asked about her lessons from working in healthcare across countries, emphasized that “government accountability” is essential to ensuring equitable healthcare access.
We are thankful to the Global Healthcare Innovation Management Center and the Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs at Fordham University, the Canisius Gallery, ArtWorks and Zoe Rain for allowing this collaboration to bring more attention to healthcare and women in Togo. If you would like to visit the gallery, it is open Monday- Friday 10 AM-4 PM.
Thank you to Yanina May for providing photos of the event. Please visit her website or Instagram @yaninamayphotography for more.