6 | Decolonizing Global Health | Laura Mkumba

Social Medicine On Air

Laura Mkumba discusses the colonial history of the field of global health and the necessity of decolonizing global health. We consider how proximity to whiteness, maternal-fetal outcomes, global health work and education, privilege, and our thoughts all reflect histories of coloniality.

Laura Mkumba (@laura_mkumba) is a native of Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania by way of Atlanta, GA. She received her Master of Science in Global Health from Duke University, where she co-founded the Duke Decolonizing Global Health Working Group in 2018. She has spent the last decade working in international and domestic HIV/AIDS research as well as mental health, health equity, adolescent health, and sexual/reproductive health of sexual and gender minorities.

This week saw the recent passing of Chadwick Boseman. We hope this episode honors his memory, his powerful legacy, and all he stood for.

Laura Mkumba's recommended resources:

• Fine, P. (2020). The future of global development: Decolonizing global health and development. (Interview) bit.ly/3jy8wU2
• Karan, A. (2020). Opinion: It's Time To End The Colonial Mindset In Global Health. n.pr/34Y4Irl
• Tuck, E., & Yang, K. W. (2012). Decolonization is not a metaphor. Decolonization: Indigeneity, education & society, 1(1). (PDF) bit.ly/32S4ajU