Dr Cynthia Fonta
Expertise
My PhD focuses on measuring child poverty and deprivations in Francophone and Anglophone African countries and exploring the relationship between poverty and poor mental health. The study applies a rights-based approach to poverty
Current positions
Contact
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Biography
My transition from general medical practice to research and social policy is a testament to my unwavering commitment to addressing the root causes of health issues, not just their symptoms. My focus on the social determinants of health reflects my belief in a holistic approach to healthcare. I firmly believe that individual health cannot be fully understood or improved without considering the broader social, economic, and environmental contexts, and this belief underpins my research and policy work.
I have enhanced my community research and policymaking skills through active participation in internships, volunteer work, and community engagements in bilateral institutions, ministries of health, and research institutions. This hands-on experience has exposed me to real problems in real-life settings, underscoring the need for bottom-up solutions. My current research on child poverty and deprivations, informed by this field experience, offers a unique opportunity to influence policy in a way that directly addresses these complex issues. A rights-based approach to poverty interventions, which I advocate for, emphasises the importance of ensuring that all individuals, especially vulnerable children, have access to the resources and opportunities needed to live healthy lives. This approach aligns with global health priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals, precisely Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
My previous works focused on self-reported health among the elderly in Ghana and multidimensional poverty measurement in the Mouhoun region of Burkina Faso.
I have enhanced my community research and policymaking skills through active participation in internships, volunteer work, and community engagements in bilateral institutions, ministries of health, and research institutions. This hands-on experience has exposed me to real problems in real-life settings, underscoring the need for bottom-up solutions. My current research on child poverty and deprivations, informed by this field experience, offers a unique opportunity to influence policy in a way that directly addresses these complex issues. A rights-based approach to poverty interventions, which I advocate for, emphasises the importance of ensuring that all individuals, especially vulnerable children, have access to the resources and opportunities needed to live healthy lives. This approach aligns with global health priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals, precisely Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
My previous works focused on self-reported health among the elderly in Ghana and multidimensional poverty measurement in the Mouhoun region of Burkina Faso.
Publications
Recent publications
23/07/2021Housing, Sanitation and Living Conditions Affecting SARS-CoV-2 Prevention Interventions in 54 African Countries
Epidemiology and Infection
Decomposing multidimensional child poverty and its drivers in the Mouhoun region of Burkina Faso, West Africa
BMC Public Health