Members of the African Palliative Care Association have appointed six new board members to support the advancement of palliative care policy and implementation in Africa.
The nomination of new board members was a culmination of a long process that started from nomination through to the final voting that was done through an online system.
The criteria for nomination included;
- unique set of skills and expertise
- commitment to palliative care and to APCA
- Regional and International affiliation.
New members will join a vibrant team that will steer the governance arm of APCA into greater heights for the next three years, 2016- 2019. These include;
- Prof. Maged El Ansari, a Prof. of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine at Al-Azhar University, Egypt. He is based in Cairo, Egypt
- Mr. James Wells, Chief Executive of EMMS International, an international Christian healthcare charity working in the UK, Africa and Asia. He is based in Scotland.
- Ms. Jacqueline Busingye Lutaya, a qualified Accountant and a Fellow of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of UK (FCCA). She is the Managing Director of a consultancy firm, Kampala Accountancy Bureau, and also manages The College for Professional Development Ltd, and is based in Kampala, Uganda.
- Ms. Martha Gyansa-Lutterodt is the Director of Pharmaceutical Services and also the Chief Pharmacist at the Ministry of Health, Ghana.
- Mr. Andre Wagner is the Chief of Party (COP) for Hospice Palliative Care Association and founder of AW Management Consulting. He is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Ms. Meera Vadodaria is a Pharmacist by profession and works as a Pharmacist Director in Rene Pharmacy Ltd, as well as the Rene Group, based in Kampala, Uganda.
- Ms. Mary Callaway, a Global Palliative Care Advocate based in New York, USA
- Prof. Jose Pereira, a professor at the College of Family Physicians of Canada, based in Canada.
- Ms. Meredith Lwanga, a legal officer with the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights based in Arusha, Tanzania.
- Mr. Malik Jaffer, a Consultant in Social Media & Marketing in Public Health, based in USA
- Dr. Elizabeth Gwyther, the CEO of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association (HPCA), based in Cape Town, South Africa
- Dr. Israel Kolawole, Lecturer/Consultant Anaesthetist & Palliative Care Physician, based at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria
- Prof. PLO Kouie, a professor of Pediatrics, based at the University of Alassane Ouattara, Bouake, Cote D’Ivoire.
APCA Executive Director, Dr Emmanuel Luyirika, expressed gratitude to outgoing members and said:
“Let me take this opportunity to thank the outgoing board members Father Rick, Dr Joe O’Neill, Prof Elly Katabira, and outgoing board chair Dr Bernard Dornoo for a very productive and supportive term of office. As the secretariat we felt comfortable and supported by consistent engagement. Your contribution has made it possible for APCA to grow and respond to the palliative care needs on the continent while ensuring accountability.”
Dr Luyirika welcomed the new members to APCA’s governing board of directors, saying “we look forward to your support and contribution as we move APCA to move and respond to the changing needs of our motherland Africa.”