Global healthcare has experienced a shift over the past few years, as women in Africa are now at the forefront of life-changing health movements. According to the World Health Organization, women account for 67% of the global health and social care force, pulling in an estimated $3 trillion annually.
All over Africa, audacious women have taken bold steps in leading groundbreaking programs that have redefined the future of health. These fearless trailblazers are not only investigating the immediate challenges of healthcare but also leading innovations that are changing every aspect of the health sector. As health challenges in Africa, ranging from managing infectious diseases to making medical services accessible to rural areas, continue to rise, this change (led by these women) has become more critical.
Our growing population as Africans, which has risen from 283 million in 1960 to more than 1.5 billion in 2024, has stirred up the need for health solutions we can proudly tag as ‘sustainable’, making women’s contributions indispensable in this space. This article celebrates six powerful women who are setting new standards for healthcare and elevating medical care in diverse African communities.
1. Dr Agnes Binagwaho: moulding the next generation of physicians in Rwanda
Dr Agnes Binagwaho is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Rwanda – an institution dedicated to training the next generation of global health leaders.
Her primary focus for this institution is to provide an education that combines academic excellence with practical solutions to improve healthcare, particularly in low—and middle-income countries. UGHE aims to change people’s views of global health by ensuring its graduates are knowledgeable and equipped to handle real-world challenges.
Born in 1955, she is a trained paediatrician who completed her medical degree in Belgium and holds a master’s degree in paediatrics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She also earned a doctorate in global health from Harvard University, cementing her reputation as a leader in public health.
As Rwanda’s former Minister of Health, she played a crucial role in rebuilding the country’s healthcare system post-genocide by implementing strategies that improved life expectancy and reduced child mortality.
Under her leadership, Rwanda became a global model for equitable healthcare, recording some of the region’s highest vaccination rates and health outcomes. Through her work at UGHE, Dr. Binagwaho continues to promote health, focusing on education, equity, and sustainable healthcare solutions.
2. Dr Susan Kasedde: Prioritising Namibia’s underserved communities.
Dr. Susan Kasedde oversees and coordinates all UNICEF programs focused on improving the well-being of children and women in the country. As UNICEF’s Representative in Namibia, Dr. Kasaedde spearheads projects focusing on child health, nutrition, education, and protection. She ensures these children have access to healthcare services and that their rights are duly protected.
Dr. Kasedde was born in Uganda and holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health and a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH), both from the University of Liverpool. She has a health policy, program management, and research background, focusing on HIV/AIDS, adolescent health, and child protection.
As part of her contribution to African public health, Dr Kasedde has made a commendable impact on HIV prevention and treatment among young people. Before her role in Namibia, she worked as the Regional Adviser for HIV/AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa, where she led movements to reduce HIV infection rates among adolescents and improve access to HIV treatment.
Her work has helped develop solutions for young people and vulnerable populations, making her a powerful advocate for children’s health and rights across the African continent.
Through her leadership at UNICEF, she has continued influencing health programs that prioritise the most undervalued communities.
3. Dr Tomi Coker, the commissioner making healthcare accessible in rural Nigeria
Dr. Tomi Coker is the Commissioner for Health in Ogun State, Nigeria. She oversees the state’s public health policies and healthcare delivery systems. Dr. Coker was born in Nigeria and pursued her medical degree at the University of Lagos. After that, she furthered her education in the United Kingdom, where she trained and practised as a Consultant Anesthesiologist. Her anesthesiology and public health background equipped her with the skills to manage complex health systems and lead impactful healthcare reforms.
Since becoming the state’s commissioner for health in January 2020, Dr. Coker has driven several health programs in Ogun State, particularly in improving maternal and child health, fighting infectious diseases, and improving primary healthcare services. Under her leadership, Ogun State has seen significant improvements in health outcomes, focusing on reducing maternal mortality, increasing immunisation coverage, and strengthening health infrastructure.
She has also been at the forefront of efforts to expand healthcare services to rural and underserved areas, ensuring that even the most vulnerable populations have access to quality healthcare. Her work has improved access to healthcare and strengthened the healthcare workforce.
4. Dr Ola Brown, the trailblazing founder of Flying Doctors Nig and HealthCap Africa.
Dr Ola Brown is the CEO of Flying Doctors Nigeria, the first air ambulance service in West Africa. She oversees operations that provide critical emergency healthcare services, including medical evacuation, air ambulance transportation, and remote site medical support. At Fly Doctors, she ensures that patients in remote and underserved regions can quickly access lifesaving medical care, often a matter of life and death.
Born in 1987 in London, Dr. Brown studied medicine at the University of York, making her one of the youngest medical doctors in the UK at the time. She also has training in aviation medicine from the United Kingdom, combining her medical expertise with her passion for improving emergency healthcare.
Dr. Brown’s impact on healthcare in Africa is profound. By starting Flying Doctors Nigeria, she has improved the delivery of emergency medical services in a region where timely access to healthcare can be extremely challenging. Her service has saved countless lives by quickly responding to medical emergencies, especially in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure.
Dr Brown also advocates for improving African healthcare systems and provides emergency services. She speaks globally about the importance of improvement in the healthcare sector. Dr Brown’s pioneering work has impacted emergency healthcare in Nigeria and set a benchmark for other African countries to follow.
5. Dr. Catherine Nyongesa, the selfless oncologist and founder of Texas Cancer Centre, Kenya.
Dr. Catherine Nyongesa is a leading radiation oncologist in Kenya and the founder of the Texas Cancer Centre in Nairobi. She provides specialised cancer treatment to patients from Kenya and neighbouring countries, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Her clinic focuses on making cancer treatment more accessible and affordable, particularly for people lacking access to such care.
Dr Nyongesa earned her medical degree from the University of Nairobi and specialised in Radiation Oncology with further training in South Africa. She is one of Kenya’s first female radiation oncologists and has extensive experience in cancer treatment and research.
She established the Texas Cancer Centre to address the growing need for accessible cancer treatment in Kenya. The centre has become an essential facility, providing quality cancer care to thousands of patients, many of whom cannot afford treatment at other hospitals. In addition to her clinical work, Dr Nyongesa is actively involved in cancer awareness campaigns, spreading the word on early cancer detection and prevention strategies across Kenya. Her work has helped to reduce the stigma associated with cancer and has improved survival rates through timely and effective treatment.
Dr. Nyongesa’s dedication to fighting cancer has saved lives and paved the way for unbiased healthcare in the region.
6. Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the South African physician, Fashion Icon and multimillion-dollar philanthropist.
Physician, Businesswoman, Philanthropist, and Founder of the Motsepe Foundation in South Africa, Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe, is a prominent figure in South Africa and wife to billionaire businessman Pratice Motsepe. She combines her medical expertise with her passion for philanthropy and social entrepreneurship to improve healthcare, education, and women’s empowerment across Africa.
Her foundation, The Motsepe Foundation, funds various health campaigns, including maternal and child health programs, HIV/AIDS prevention, and cancer care.
Born in 1964 in South Africa, Dr. Moloi-Motsepe studied medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, where she specialised in children’s and women’s health. After practising medicine, she transitioned into business and philanthropy to multiply her impact on public health and social issues.
Through the Motsepe Foundation, she has championed numerous campaigns that examine health challenges, such as reducing maternal mortality, increasing access to reproductive health services, and combating HIV/AIDS. Her philanthropic work is not restricted to healthcare; she also strongly advocates for gender equality and economic empowerment for African women. In September 2019, she was elected Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, succeeding Graça Machel, and began her ten-year term on 1 January 2020.
Having seen these women’s commendable actions, one cannot deny that each has devoted their lives to ensuring that Africa is not left behind in healthcare. Their role in shaping the healthcare sector cannot be overstated, and they deserve to be celebrated for their noble work.
