source: PRINCE AKPAH
Across the world, the Coronavirus has not only become
another disaster to wipe us all out of the earth but has also put the spotlight
on the level of competence of our political leaders.
In Africa, the case is not different as governments are
putting in draconian measures to halt the spread just like their counterparts
in Europe and Asia.
With the eminent role health ministers are playing in
fighting this global pandemic, I delved into a special finding to uncover the
female faces leading the battle and definitely deserve commendation for the
works, they have put in so far albeit sorrowful to know that, their works are
faced with several challenges because of the under-resourced facilities they
manage and how they will be risking their lives in the battle against the
virus.
Beyond their competence, they have proven to stand tall in
the delivery of their duties as their role in this pandemic go beyond providing
counsel to the presidents but an opportunity to manage the global crisis, as
they provide all kinds of support to doctors, nurses, and other health workers
in their countries while also collaborating with their counterparts to make
sure patients receive treatment and citizens are well informed about the
situation in their countries.
In my research on 51 African countries, Africa has only 13
female ministers in charge of health across the continent. Out of the 13, 9 are
medical doctors and the others were appointed based on their political
leadership track records.
The countries that deserve applaud for such laudable
appointments of women are Angola, Burkina Faso Congo Republic, Egypt, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.
Prince Akpah, Managing Director of leading African PR &
Rating Firm, Avance Media, presents the list of 12 Female Health Ministers in
Africa leading countries to help fight the Covid-19 disease.
1.
Amna Nurhusein, Minister of Health, Eritrea
She was appointed in 2009 as minister of health in Eritrea.
She previously held positions such as Minister of Tourism and is a leading
member of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice in Eritrea.
2.
Dr Fawziya Abikar, Minister of Health, Somalia
Dr Fawziya Abikar is the health minister of Somalia
3.
Dr Hala Zayed, Minister of Health and Population, Egypt
Dr. Zayed served as President of the 57357 Academy of Health
Sciences, Chairwoman of the Supreme Committee for Combating Corruption at the
Ministry of Health and Advisor to the Minister of Health and Population
She also held other positions including; Director General of
the General Department of Hospitals in the Medical Therapy Sector of the
Ministry, the Head of the Central Administration for Monitoring and Follow-up
and the Head of the Department of Grants and Loans at the Ministry
Dr. Zayed holds a Master’s degree in Obstetrics and
Gynecology, and a doctorate and Master's degree in Business Administration
Dr. Zayed supervised a series of national projects in the
health sector, in which the World Bank, the World Health Organization and many
international donors contributed
4.
Dr. Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo, Minister of Health and Population, Congo Republic
Jacqueline Lydia Mikolo is Congo Republic’s Minister of
Health and Population since May 6, 2016. She was previously Public Procurement
and Regulatory Coordinator at the Department of Major Works
At the 69th World Health Assembly, held May 23–28 in Geneva,
she presented the Congolese Health Program, entitled "The march towards
development", which sets itself as a primary goal to facilitate access to
health for the population with inexpensive and quality care over the period
2016-2021. This goes through several achievements such as the establishment of
universal health insurance, the construction of general hospitals in all
departments, the strengthening of the management of certain diseases or the
maintenance of free access to care for certain segments of the population
5. Dr.
Léonie Claudine Sorgho/Lougue, Minister of Health, Burkina Faso
Dr. Léonie Claudine Sorgho / Lougue is a radiologist doctor,
university Professor of radiology, medical imaging and radio diagnostics. She
was Director of the Research and Training Unit in Health Science, Ouaga I
Joseph KI-ZERBO University in Burkina Faso from 2015 to 2019 and member of the
jury of the 18th and 19th Human Medicine, Pharmacy, Odontology, Veterinary
Medicine and Animal Production aggregation competitions at CAMES.
Dr Sorgho / Lougue teaches Radiology, Medical Imaging and
Radiodiagnostics at Ouaga University I Professor Joseph Ki-Zerbo and supervises
medical and specialization students. She is also Director of the UNESCO Chair
"Gender, Women, Science, Society and Sustainable Development" of
universities, institutes and research centers, Head of Radiology and Medical
Imaging Department and Director in charge of University Hospital Planning and
cooperation at the Center Hospitalier Universitaires Pédiatrique (CHUP) Charles
De Gaulle.
Dr Sorgho / Lougue is also a member of several university
and learned societies: evaluation group of the International Conference of
Deans of Faculties of Medicine of French Expression (CIDMEF) and member of the
board and the Board of Directors of said Conference, Conference African of the
Deans of Faculties of Medicine of French Expression (CADMEF) of which she is
the General Treasurer, Burkinabe Society of Radiology and Medical Imaging
(SOBURAD) as a founding member and Treasurer
6.
Dr. Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin, Minister of Health, Ethiopia
Dr Lia Tadesse Gebremedhin is Ethiopia's minister of health.
She was previously the executive director of the Center for International
Reproductive Health Training at the University of Michigan. She previously
served as project director for the Maternal and Child Survival Program at
Jhpiego Ethiopia. Lia also led research in Reproductive Health, Public Health
and OB-Gyn.
She earned her doctor of medicine and master of health care
administration at Jimma University, and specialized in obstetrics and
gynaecology at Addis Ababa University.
7.
Lizzie NKOSI, Minister of Health, Eswatini
Senator Lizzie Nkosi is Eswantini’s health minister.
8.
Maria Inácia Có Sanhá, Minister of Public Health, Family and Social Cohesion,
Guinea Bissau
Maria Inácia Có Sanhá, is Guinea Bissau’s Minister of Public
Health, Family and Social Cohesion. She graduated in Potuguse at the Escola
Normal Superior Tchico Té in Bissau.
She was President of the Instituto de Mulher e Criança,
Director General of Social Solidarity and Family, Head of the Department of
Information and Professional Guidance, Employment Technician of the General
Directorate of Labour, Employment and Professional Training (DGTEFP) - Ministry
of Public Service and Labour.
She twice occupied the portfolio of the Secretary of
Hospital Management in the current government before she was promoted to take
up the role of Minister of Public Health, Family and Social Cohesion.
9.
Dr. Nazira Abdula, Minister of Health, Mozambique
A paediatrician by profession, Nazira Abdula graduated from
Maputo Central Hospital with complementary stages in the Hospital São João do
Porto in Portugal. Abula earned a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietitian
from the University of Flinders, Australia, in 2006. She worked as a general
practitioner at Medical Mavalane General Hospital from 1993 to 1997 and was
involved in the program to combat malaria in the Mavalane area. During the
cholera epidemic of 1997, she led the cholera infirmary of Maputo Central
Hospital. She has taught at the Catholic University of Mozambique, and in the
Health Sciences Institute of Maputo and Beira. Having been Deputy Minister of
Health from 2010 to 2014 in the previous administration, Abdula was appointed
Minister of Health in January 2015.
10.
Dr. Ruth Jane Aceng, Minister of Health, Uganda
Jane Ruth Aceng is a paediatrician and the Minister of
Health in the Cabinet of Uganda.
She previously served as the Director General of Medical
Services in the Ugandan Ministry of Health.
Her service began when she was a medical officer in the
health ministry. Before her appointment as the Director General of Medical
Services, she was serving as executive director of Lira Regional Referral
Hospital.
Dr. Aceng has vast experience both as a manager and a
practicing medical personnel, which she accumulated while serving in various
capacities as: Medical Officer, Senior Medical Officer, Medical Officer Special
Grade, Medical Superintendent, Consultant Paediatrician, Senior Consultant
Paediatrician, Hospital Director, and the Director General of Health Services
for the Ministry of Health, Uganda.
11. Dr Silvia Lutucuta,
Minister of Health, Angola
SÃlvia Paula Valentim Lutucuta, is a Physician, Cardiologist
and University Professor, Head of the Postgraduate and Scientific Research
Department at the Faculty of Medicine, with experience in Research - Molecular
Biology and Genetics of Cardiovascular Diseases.
She entered the Faculty of Medicine Universidade Agostinho
Neto-Huambo at just 16 years old, completed her degree in the 6 years
established in 1990, as she was the youngest and best student, at just 21 years
old, she was offered a scholarship. Immediate Postgraduate study and inspired
by her maternal grandmother, a great nationalist Angolan woman who always
defended the importance of advanced training in women, her emancipation and
economic independence who suffered from severe Heart Disease, she specialized
in Cardiology at Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon - Portugal- Head of Service
Celeste Vagueiro and integrating the team of Prof. Doctor Fausto Pinto.
She started his teaching career at just 19 years old, as a
Monitor in the Department of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine in Huambo in
the Department of Morphology Chair of Histology.
With the growing need to reinforce the teaching staff of the
FMUAN Department of Medicine, she was then transferred to Luanda during the
internship and became a supervisor of this department and after completing her
degree she moved to the Assistant category, an activity that was interrupted
during her training abroad.
12. Ummy Ally Mwalimu,
Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Seniors and Children,
Tanzania
Ummy Ally Mwalimu is the Minister of Health, Community
Development, Gender, Seniors and Children in the Cabinet of Tanzania since
2015. She is a two-term Member of Parliament, appointed to a seat reserved for
women.
She completed her schooling from the Korogwe Girls Secondary
School in 1993. In 1998, she received a Bachelor of Laws from the University of
Dar es Salaam. She received her Master of Laws degree from the University of
Pretoria in 2001. Between 2000 and 2010, she worked in various governmental and
NGO agencies in legal, research and governance roles
In President Jakaya Kikwete's administration, she served in
a succession of ministerial roles as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of
Community Development, Gender and Children and Deputy Minister in the Vice
President's Office and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
13. Dr. Wilhemina
Jallah, Minister of Health, Liberia
Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah is Liberia’s minister of health but
was previously the head of obstetrics and gynaecology at the John F. Kennedy
Medical Center in Monrovia, Liberia,
She helped provide medical services to young survivors of
rape, many of whom require fistula repair surgery and has practised medicine in
Liberia for a very long time.
Author, Prince Akpah
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