Rethinking Africa's Health Narrative with Transformational Leadership

It's always a good moment to be able to share insights with colleagues in the healthcare space and even more so when called upon to contribute on matters relating health. On this account I have been called upon to train during the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) African Regional Office (IPSF AfRO) Leaders-In-Training (LIT) Program. This is an annual activity that coincides with the IPSF AfRO Pharmaceutical Symposium (AfPS) where pharmacy students, recent graduates and pharmacists come together to discuss medical and pharmacy professional concerns.

On the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak, we are not able to convene in person but this does not mean that learning and forward looking discussion on matters health in the continent. I recently got a call to train on Transformational Leadership in the upcoming IPSF AfRO LIT Program that is set to happen this Friday 3rd July 2020. This is an exciting and a challenging moment to be going to look into this. Based on the current landscape of health in Africa as set forth by COVID-19, there is a need to relook our leadership in the continent.

At the offset of this global pandemic, 44 African countries had 9,482 ventilators as reported by Reuters. This in consideration of the fact that Africa is home to 1.3 billion people. It’s therefore imperative to assess our role as a people and look into the future of healthcare in Africa. During the upcoming training, I will focus on outlining the key concepts of Transformational Leadership as provided for by the 4 I’s of Transformational Leadership i.e.

• Intellectual Stimulation: There’s need for creativity and ingenuity and in the current situation this cannot be overemphasized. It’s a critical time to revamp our investment in capacity building initiatives that encourage critical thinking, problem solving and forward looking approaches. The concern is whether we have platforms in place for these especially among the young people. It’s time to look at what the participants are working on to innovate and create solutions for health.
• Inspirational Motivation: This global pandemic have brought to fore the important role that Africa CDC plays in the continent. This has been pushed ahead by the leadership of Dr. John Nkengasong. However, it’s worth noting that there hasn’t been any structured call to action that evokes a common response among Africans to work for the future of health in Africa. Our response has been good and moving forward it’s important to find a way to build systems for a stable future of health in Africa.
• Individualized Consideration: It’s important to recognize the skills and capabilities of each individual and enable them to thrive in what they are good at. Africa has great potential in its intellectual expertise however unless this is let to thrive we will not be able to set stage for the future of healthcare in Africa. Having politicians argue scientific decisions without regard for expert advice on matters of public health impact doesn’t only risk lives but also threaten the future of health.
• Idealized Influence: In efforts to have a movement of empowered, ambitious and proactive individuals ready to drive the African health agenda, there is need for a leader who presents an ideal case for emulation. In the African context I doubt there is such a figure to model a continental response for the next phase. How do we work on this with the trainees and set pace?

Factoring these in the context of COVID-19, it will be prudent to deliberate on whether as a continent we are doing enough and setting stage for a sustainable future for healthcare in Africa.

As a pharmacist, it’s of importance to look into the progress that has been made in responding to this pandemic guided by the Africa CDC under the leadership of Dr. John Nkengasong. On 19th June 2020, there was the launch of the Africa Medical Supplies Platform which is meant to provide a platform for easy procurement of essential medical products in the wake of COVID-19. However, it’s worth noting that as we ramp up action to respond to COVID-19 we need to and must establish structures that can withstand the test of time.

COVID-19 is an opportunity to fast track programs that had been initiated like the regional harmonization of regulations under the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH), open up scope of these regulatory provisions, set clear and objective provisions for clinical trials with scientific basis guided by the Helsinki Declaration on Good Clinical Practices, promote local clinical practice standards for reporting of clinical outcomes rather than relying on evidence from the western world, promote local manufacturing among others.

Africa’s healthcare landscape is at a tipping point and it lies with us to decide on the future of healthcare in Africa. The question is whether we are willing to set course and sail towards this future or play second fiddle and game of dependence till an eternity which isn't guaranteed?