WHO, UNV programme launch second part of Africa Ladies Well being Champions initiative

Brazzaville — The World Well being Group (WHO) Regional Workplace for Africa and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Programme right now launched the second part of the Africa Ladies Well being Champions (AWHC) initiative to recruit younger African girls professionals to assist drive the area’s well being agenda and aims. 

Following the profitable implementation of the primary part, the AWHC initiative continues its mission of putting younger African girls professionals aged between 22 and 35 years as UN Volunteer well being champions throughout WHO Nation Workplaces in Africa. By way of the initiative, WHO-AFRO and UNV dedicated to enhancing well being for folks on the continent, increasing alternatives for African public well being professionals and nurturing the following technology of ladies well being leaders in Africa, whereas contributing to gender parity for WHO workforce.

“Primarily based on the success of the primary part, it’s with pleasure that I announce the launch of the second part beginning right now. With the partnership of the UNV programme, and the assist of all of the nation workplaces, we intention to recruit extra younger girls who’re decided to contribute to the continent’s improvement within the well being sector as UN Volunteers,” stated Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

The African Ladies Well being Champions initiative has been a convincing success, with 120 girls well being champions deployed in 38 nations, representing 36 nationalities, and from greater than 25 skilled fields. The well being champions contributed to response efforts by WHO to COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola epidemic, cholera outbreak and different well being emergencies within the area. Skilled areas of deployments included public well being, emergency well being surveillance, meals safety, biomedical engineering and laboratory expertise amongst others.

“There may be nonetheless a lot to do to attain higher well being for everybody on the continent. In the present day, WHO and UNV are beginning the second part of the initiative. With extra scale and new ambition. With deal with variety. With outreach to underrepresented nations,” stated Mr Toily Kurbanov, the Govt Coordinator of the UN Volunteers Programme.

The second part of the AWHC initiative will run for twenty-four months, providing younger professionals from the African continent thrilling profession alternatives to have interaction in public well being initiatives in precedence end result areas for WHO. The well being champions can be positioned as nationwide and worldwide UN Volunteers in WHO nation workplaces and at WHO Africa Regional Workplace. The second part of the initiative will focus extra on increasing well being profession improvement alternatives, growing variety and engagement of underrepresented nations.