Dakar, October 23, 2024 – This Tuesday, in Dakar, Senegal, and during the 5th edition of the Speak Up Africa Leadership Awards, the organization celebrated key leaders working in sustainable development for their accomplishments in 2023. This annual award launched in 2019 by Speak Up Africa aims to recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations that demonstrate exemplary leadership in the public health sector and who have had a positive impact on sustainable development in Africa.
For this 5th edition, five personalities and organizations from various sectors were recognized during the Speak Up Africa Leadership Awards for their commitment and achievements in the fight against malaria and neglected tropical diseases or the promotion of universal access to sanitation and gender equality.
They are:
- Farida Tiemtore, Founder of Les Héroïnes du Faso, Voix EssentiELLES du Burkina Faso and Member of the Global Fund Youth Council, was recognized for her work and community engagement on gender equality issues;
- Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall, Director of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Program at the World Health Organization (WHO) for his essential role in prioritizing and increasing visibility on this group of diseases;
- Amadou Gallo Fall, President of the African Basketball League, for his leadership and direct collaboration with Speak Up Africa on the “African LeadHERs Meet BAL4HER” mentoring program aimed at strengthening gender equality and female leadership in the sports industries in Africa;
- Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO of the RBM Partnership to End Malaria for her leadership in the joint efforts to eliminate malaria globally; and
- Oumou Kalsom Diallo, a digital health pioneer in Senegal and Founding Member of the African Women in Digital Health (AWIDH) Network, with Africa CDC and Speak Up Africa, established since October 2022.
“It is an honor for me to receive the Speak Up Africa Leadership Award. We are facing new challenges in the fight against malaria, such as climate change or drug and insecticide resistance, which is why the RBM Partnership is doubling its efforts to bring together stakeholders in the fight against malaria to energize and pool our common efforts to end this disease.” said Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO of the Partnership to End Malaria.
Farida Tiemtore, Founder and President of Héroïnes du Faso and Voix EssentiELLES of Burkina Faso did not fail to reiterate her organization's commitment to continue to work alongside Speak Up Africa to strengthen the impact and leadership of young women at the level of decision-making platforms and bodies on the continent. “I am delighted to be part of a movement and a regional initiative that aims to magnify the place of women in decision-making bodies, as a young Burkinabé, it is an immense honor to receive this recognition which motivates me all the more to bring about transformational changes at the level of Burkina Faso, the Global Fund Youth Council or the Voix EssentiELLES networks.“
Celebrated in 2024, the Leadership Award ceremony concluded the “Speak Up Africa Day: “Thinking Outside the Box: Celebrating Leadership and Promoting Collaboration”” which brought together over 100 government, technical, financial and implementing partners to promote innovative and impactful initiatives, movements and campaigns in Africa.
“Today, Speak Up Africa celebrates African leadership in achieving our shared and global sustainable development goals. A leadership that the organization catalyzes, promotes and amplifies through each strategic partnership and each key moment. The architecture of global health and development is tied together by the individuals we celebrate and have gathered here and we are grateful and grateful to them,” concluded Yacine Barro Bourgeault, Chair of the Board of Directors of Speak Up Africa.
