The third cohort of the Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Fellows, a program run by Africa CDC, has been urged to leverage their leadership skills to drive impactful change across Africa.
The Kofi Annan Fellowship in Global Health Leadership Program graduated on May 8 at Africa CDC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The fellowship named after Kofi Atta Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, is a collaborative effort between the African Union Commission, Africa CDC, and the Kofi Annan Foundation. One of Annan’s notable achievements was the establishment of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in 2001. The Global Fund revolutionized the global approach to prevention and management of infectious diseases. This program is a collaborative effort between the African Union Commission, the Africa CDC, and the Kofi Annan Foundation.
“Africa lags behind other regions in key areas such as child survival, maternal health, life expectancy, and high morbidity rates for common diseases, despite notable progress,” said Dr. Raji Tajudeen, Acting Deputy Director General and Head of Public Health Institutes and Research Division.
Addressing these challenges necessitates equipping the public health workforce and leadership with the skills to navigate political systems, decision-making processes, and economic drivers. Dr. Tajudeen added that this was the vision when the program was conceptualized by former Africa CDC Director General Dr. John Nkengasong and further enriched by the current Director General, Dr. Jean Kaseya.
“Your completion of this program signifies not only your personal growth but also a commitment to transformational leadership in public health,” said Dr. Jean Kaseya, the Director General of Africa CDC, during the graduation ceremony.
During the one-year fellowship, the 20 graduates from 13 African countries engaged in diverse disciplines, including negotiations, politics, partnerships, and diplomacy.
“As you stand on the threshold of a new chapter, I urge you to embrace the mantle of leadership with renewed vigour. True leadership lies in personal success and nurturing others to greatness,” Kaseya said.
As recipients of this prestigious fellowship, graduates are responsible for uplifting their communities, institutions, and nations. The 20 leaders were selected from 500 candidates across Africa, highlighting their potential to effect change on a grand scale. “Let’s seize the opportunity to cultivate more leaders who will chart a brighter future for our continent,” Kaseya added.
“Leadership plays a crucial role in global health by setting priorities, mobilizing resources, coordinating efforts, and inspiring action,” said Dr. Ebere Okereke, Chief Executive Officer of Africa Public Health Foundation and a mentor in the program. “Effective leadership can drive innovation, promote collaboration, and ensure that our health systems are resilient and responsive to emerging challenges,” she added.
Founded and conceptualized by Martin Mwita, the Kofi Annan Fellowship in Global Health Leadership Program was launched in 2020 and has graduated 59 leaders. Alex Coutinho, the program director, noted that the 2023 cohort was hosted in Ethiopia, Ghana, Morocco, and Zambia.
“The success of this program lies in the fact that we never leave the African continent to learn best practices in public health,” Coutinho said. “When we visit African countries, we realize that it is no longer necessary to go to New York, Geneva, or London to see examples of public health in action.”
