April 3, 2024 — Esias Bedingar, a third-year PhD candidate in population health sciences at the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin School of Arts and Sciences who studies global health and health systems at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, was appointed advisor to the prime minister of Chad Succès Masra, chargé de Mission, in January. It’s the culmination of the years of effort Bedingar has already put into reinvesting his public health and policy skills into his home country.
While he has been pursuing his education in the U.S. over the past decade, Bedingar has continued research and professional work in Chad, including founding a nonprofit to address malaria, and launching the Alma Center for Health Systems & Development Research in 2020. Earlier this year, Bedingar presented his research on Chadian youths’ beliefs about sexuality and HIV/AIDS as a TedX speaker at the Africa CDC Youth Pre-Conference.
In his new role, Bedingar is spearheading the oversight of public sector service delivery outcomes. This includes initiatives to improve service delivery, reduce systemic inefficiencies, and promote equitable access to public services. One effort he’s currently working on involves improving infrastructure at the village level to improve maternal and child mortality.
“Esias continues to demonstrate his reverence as a public health leader and researcher through his ongoing service commitments,” said Marcia Castro, Andelot Professor of Demography and Chair, Department of Global Health and Population. “He is fully committed to getting the highest quality training and then going back to Chad and using his skills to improve the health conditions of the population.”
Bedingar said, “My primary goal is to address the stark reality that many Chadian citizens are unable to access their fundamental necessities.” He added, “By focusing on the strengths and existing knowledge in our communities, we can lay a strong foundation for a promising future that extends far beyond the health sector to educational and economic opportunities.”
Photos: Courtesy of Esias Bedingar