Africa Regional Hub
Founded:
The WGH Africa Regional Hub was launched on the last day of the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) in Rwanda in 2019. In this conference, women from across the world shone as keynote speakers on the Universal Health Coverage agenda in Africa and its implementation, as researchers, advocates, active facilitators, engaged delegates, and lead organizers. The final day of the conference fell on the eve of International Women’s Day, and Amref Health Africa took this opportunity to launch the Women in Global Health Africa Regional Hub.
We are hosted by Amref Health Africa (Amref).
Our aims
The hub creates a platform for discussions and a collaborative space for leadership. It facilitates specific education and training, garners support and commitment from the global community, and demands change for gender transformative leadership within Africa.
To achieve this Amref Health Africa leverages its footprint in Africa to act as an enabler for the WGH National Chapters to develop local solutions to address their unique needs in gender equality while ensuring that all National Chapters have equal voice within the movement.
Our work
Women recognition: AHAIC 2019 organizers recognized several women for their leadership and efforts in promoting global health, including Dr Diane Gashumba, Rwanda’s Minister of Health; Katja Iversen, the CEO of Women Deliver; Nice Nailantei, a global End-FGM ambassador; Professor Miriam Were, a champion for an AIDS-Free Generation and Senait Fisseha Alemu, a health extension worker from Ethiopia.
Campaign against FGM/C: The hub is working with the Amref Health Africa’s Centre of Excellence to End Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) that provides strategic leadership and coordinates Amref’s End FGM/C work in Africa.
Leadership Capacity Building: We have worked to roll out capacity building for health managers in over 40 countries in Africa through a Leadership, Management and Governance course being offered at Amref’s Institute of Capacity Development. The hub is also working with different countries in Africa (through Amref country offices) to aid capacity strengthening to enhance women leadership and empowerment.
CHWs campaign: Community Health Workers (majority of whom are women) in Africa provide services at the frontline without being paid. This campaign is geared towards recognition of CHWs in the Ministry of Health scheme of service and ensure they are paid for the community health services they provide.
Our leaders
Desta Lakew
