Africa: WomenLift Health Appoints Akhona Tshangela as Southern Africa Region Director

The Southern African Regional Hub will serve Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

WomenLift Well being has appointed Akhona Tshangela because the Director for the Southern Africa area, marking a big step because the group embarks on establishing its presence within the area. With over 15 years of in depth expertise in public well being, Ms. Tshangela brings a wealth of experience and distinctive perspective to WomenLift Well being’s packages and strategic initiatives.

“We’re delighted to welcome Akhona to the WomenLift Well being household. Her distinctive monitor report and dedication to advancing public well being, coupled together with her dedication to gender equality, make her the best Director to steer our efforts in Southern Africa.”, stated Amie Batson, President, WomenLift Well being.

Underrepresentation of ladies leaders within the well being ecosystem  [AT1] continues to outcome within the exclusion of proficient and extremely expert professionals who possess sturdy management qualities and are appropriate for decision-making positions.

“We’ve had nice success with implementing our Signature Management Journey in East Africa, India, and North America, with a present cohort of 200 girls and 230 alumnae girls this yr. We’re excited on the prospects of building and persevering with this work throughout the Southern Africa context,” added Amie.

Within the Southern Africa area, like different international locations in Africa, girls’s management, together with within the well being ecosystem, has been hindered by repressive insurance policies, restrictive cultural norms and practices, and entrenched patriarchy. Ms. Tshangela’s management will drive strategic initiatives beneath the WomenLift Well being Signature Management Journey, aiming to develop the affect and alternatives for proficient girls in international well being within the area, thereby addressing crucial gaps and selling gender fairness in any respect ranges of management. She shall be crucial in the direction of fostering transformative management within the area’s healthcare sector, the place girls have traditionally been underrepresented in senior management positions.

“Because the area requires financial empowerment of ladies and gender equality, the function of the Director for the Southern Africa Womenlift Well being Hub can be paramount in advancing the area’s dedication to empowering girls leaders and making certain inclusive and equitable healthcare companies for all.   Ms. Tshangela’s management will play a vital function in driving constructive change and fostering inclusivity.” Prof. Olive Shisana

An Africa Gender Index score carried out in about 50 African international locations, together with these within the Southern Africa area, revealed that in each the personal and public sectors, senior decision-making stays considerably within the arms of males. The rating confirmed marked variations between the variety of women and men in senior and representational positions. The rating for the illustration and empowerment dimension is 21.3%, displaying a serious gender hole exists.

The gender hole for managers and professionals is 41.4%, whereas the gender hole for parliamentary illustration is about 25.3%, and 22.9% for high managers in companies. The report additional reiterates that together with girls leaders in decision-making tables and positions will speed up achievement of the Sustainable Growth Targets in Africa.

“The African area boasts a wealth of proficient girls absolutely able to taking up senior roles in international well being management. I firmly consider that ladies belong in all areas within the well being sector the place choices are being made, contemplating that they’re the vast majority of the workforce. I eagerly anticipate making a constructive contribution to advancing WomenLift Well being’s mission and collaborating with stakeholders in Southern Africa and past to deal with the strategic gender hole and propel significant change within the healthcare sector.” stated  Akhona Tshangela

Ms. Tshangela, a skilled subject epidemiologist, has held pivotal roles in public well being, together with coverage growth, program implementation, knowledge administration and well being diplomacy having labored on the African Union. Her current place as Africa CDC Program Coordinator for Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) highlights her management within the subject. Notably, her contributions to the COVID-19 response, reminiscent of co-chairing technical working group and main data administration platforms, underscore her influence on public well being.

“Robust and transformative management is acknowledged as important for constructing resilient and responsive well being programs. I’m assured that Ms. Tshangela’s management within the Southern Africa area is pivotal in advancing WomenLift Well being’s unwavering dedication to elevating girls leaders in well being.” stated Dr. Samukeliso Dube, Government Director at FP2030 and World Advisory Board Member at WomenLift Well being.

Encompassing an intensive vary of nations, the Southern Africa hub shall be pivotal in advancing WomenLift Well being’s mission. The Director shall be key in attaining impactful outcomes throughout the area, together with Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, the Kingdom of Eswatini, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.