Empowering African Health Leadership: A Groundbreaking Induction for New Board Members of the African Constituency Bureau The African Constituency Bureau (ACB) has recently hosted an inaugural and transformative two-day meeting for its newly appointed board members, pivotal in renewing its mission to address Africa's health needs robustly. This historic induction session, led by ACB Executive Director Mrs. Susan Mochache, signifies a strategic effort to equip the incoming board members with an in-depth understanding of their significant roles and mandates. Held with key partners and stakeholders, the session underscores the Bureau’s commitment to enhancing its governance and effectiveness. Dr. Jean Jacques Mbungani, outgoing Board member for Western Central Africa (WCA), highlighted the multifaceted objectives of this initiative. The induction aimed not only to orient the new members on the governance structures of the Global Fund but also to facilitate crucial discussions on investments in HIV, TB, malaria, and health systems aligned with Africa's priorities. Furthermore, the session provided an essential platform to review the evolving global health landscape and its implications for Africa’s strategic position in global health forums. Welcome New Board Members from WCA and ESA Regions The ACB is delighted to announce the appointment of distinguished new board members from the WCA and Eastern Southern Africa (ESA) regions to the Global Fund. These leaders are not just holding positions but are the pillars of change and progress in the global health landscape, ensuring that African voices are heard and prioritized. Meet Our New Board Members: Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, WCA Board member: A venerable public health leader, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, is Nigeria's Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. With an illustrious career spanning national and global arenas, including roles as a professor at Harvard University and CEO of Gavi, he has been pivotal in addressing health crises such as COVID-19. His efforts in polio eradication and primary healthcare have garnered national and international acclaim. Prof. Pate's extensive educational background, encompassing medicine, public health, and health sector renewal, underpins his significant contributions to public health in Nigeria. Dr. Pierre Somse, WCA Alternate Board member: Dr. Pierre Somse, a public health specialist, holds a Doctorate in Medicine and a Master's in Public Health. His tenure at UNAIDS and his role as Minister of Public Health and Population in the Central African Republic have been marked by notable initiatives, including the support of inclusive health programs. Dr. Somse's focus remains on optimizing the impact of Global Fund programs and fostering collaborations with key health donors. Dr. Joseph Phaahla, ESA Board member: Dr. Joseph Phaahla, with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has had a distinguished career in medical practice and public service. As South Africa's Minister of Health and a longstanding Member of Parliament, he brings a wealth of experience and a steadfast commitment to advancing healthcare and governance in South Africa. Dr. John Jingu, ESA Alternate Board member: Dr. John A.K. Jingu, Permanent Secretary at Tanzania's Ministry of Health, holds a robust background in Political Science and Public Administration. With significant contributions to public service reforms and governance, and as an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Limerick, his academic and professional journey underscores his dedication to strategic health leadership. Objectives and Expectations for the New Board Members: Strengthen Representation: Enhance African voices in the Global Fund’s decision-making processes, ensuring regional challenges and perspectives are thoroughly addressed. Advocate for Enhanced Resources: Push for increased funding to combat AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, particularly in underserved and high-burden regions. Share Expertise and Insights: Leverage their extensive regional expertise to influence health policies and strategic directions, leading to improved health outcomes across Africa. Raise the African Voice: Elevate Africa’s role in global health discussions, shaping effective strategies to tackle health disparities. “Including esteemed members from the WCA and ESA regions into the Global Fund's board is a testament to these regions' significant roles in the global health landscape. They come with a lot of experience at global, regional, and national levels, and we are eager to take advantage of and benefit from their influence," stated Susan Mochache, Executive Director at the ACB. "Africa bears the highest burden of Malaria, Tuberculosis, and HIV, with almost 72% of the Global Fund investments; we need to change the narrative and posture,” she concluded. This announcement aligns seamlessly with ACB's strategic mission to bolster African leadership in global health governance, ensuring the continent's voice is impactful and instrumental in shaping the future of international health policy.

Empowering African Health Leadership: A Groundbreaking Induction for New Board Members of the African Constituency Bureau

African Constituency BureauLeave a comment

The African Constituency Bureau (ACB) has recently hosted an inaugural and transformative two-day meeting for its newly appointed board members, pivotal in renewing its mission to address Africa’s health needs robustly. This historic induction session, led by ACB Executive Director Mrs. Susan Mochache, signifies a strategic effort to equip the incoming board members with an…

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Engaging Stakeholders for Health Transformation in Benin

African Constituency Bureau, Benin, Best practicesLeave a comment

This initiative in Benin focuses on the active involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society players, NGOs/associations, disease programs, technical and financial partners, various ministries, the private sector, and key/vulnerable populations. The goal is to develop the 2024-2030 Integrated National Strategic Plan to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, viral hepatitis, and other epidemic-prone…

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Malaria Mosquitoe

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African Constituency Bureau, Armelle Nyobe, MalariaLeave a comment

On 4th of June 2024, the African Constituency Bureau organized a webinar, “Empowering Africa: Collaborative Malaria Actions”. In all, 85 participants across the African constituencies and the technical partners gathered to deliberate on the malaria. The meeting shared innovative approaches, technologies, and interventions that have contributed to advancing malaria control and elimination efforts in some…

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Lusaka Aganda

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Africa Leaders Meeting (ALM) Declaration, African Constituency Bureau, Lusaka AgendaLeave a comment

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Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH), RSSH, The Global FundLeave a comment

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Jeunes, maladie pédiatrique

Youth-Led Solutions: Engaging Young People in the Fight Against HIV, TB and Malaria

Africa, Armelle Nyobe, L'InitiativeLeave a comment

Overview According to UNESCO’s 2020 World Youth Report, there are 1.2 billion people in the 15-24 age group, representing 16% of the world’s population. In 2019, about 230 million young people (aged 15 to 24 years) were living in Africa, representing around 19% of the world’s youth population. If we include young people under the…

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Malaria Mosquitoe

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Africa, Malaria, OIGLeave a comment

Malaria is a public health and developmental threat in Africa. In 2022 globally, 249 million malaria cases led to 608,000 deaths, of whom 76% of deaths were children under five[1]. In the same year, the African Region experienced 94% of malaria cases and contributed to 95% of the global deaths, representing 233 million cases and…

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Côte d'Ivoire

Côte d’Ivoire: Global Fund Grant Performance Audit and Critical Areas for Improvement

TB, VIHLeave a comment

Located in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire had a population size of 28.2 million as of 2022. In the last national Population-based HIV Impact Assessment survey conducted in 2018, Côte d’Ivoire showed an annual rate of 0.03% new HIV infections and a prevalence of 0.2% among adults[1]. HIV prevalence was highest among key populations (people who…

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