The head of the African Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that he was so much happier to be back home in Africa after German immigration officers mistreated him at an airport in Frankfurt.
Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma was invited to attend the World Health Summit that was due to take place this week but after German immigration officials doubted his visa (issued by the German government), the Kenyan-born scientist decided to take the next flight home back to Kenya over the weekend and forfeit the meeting.
“I’m happier and safer back home in Africa” he Tweeted. “They invite you then mistreat you” Dr. Ouma wrote on his Twitter handle.
He also shared some tips for Africans who are desperate to stay in Europe or America:
- “A visa often means little when you are carrying an African passport – regular or diplomatic”
- “Don’t reduce your dignity to fit someone else’s prejudices – you’ll be feeding a wolf that will one day devour you”
- “Very many decent people are mistreated everyday and don’t have the microphone to let the world know – I empathize with ALL of you”
- “Home is best – Mama Afrika remains my refuge (and 1.5 billion others!) so I must take care of her. And so should you”.
Frankfurt airport has since issued an apology, stating that they “welcome all passengers” and “do not tolerate any form of discrimination or racism”.
Before joining Africa CDC, Dr. Ouma was an advisor in the Global Coordination Mechanism for NCDs in the office of the Assistant Director-General for NCDs (Non-Communicable Diseases) in the WHO headquarters in Geneva. Prior to that, he was Program Manager for Primary Prevention of NCDs and Regional Adviser for Tobacco Control at the WHO Regional Office for Africa.
He is an expert in public health matters and understands the intricacies of how governments work and how governments can provide public health in resource-poor settings.
