Professor Champion Nyoni, senior researcher in the School of Nursing at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been appointed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Academy Standing Advisory Quality Committee – making him the only representative from Africa to serve in this academy.
Colleague Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa, an expert on African traditional medicine and head of the African Medicines Innovations and Technologies Development Platform (AMITD) within the Department of Pharmacology, has also been appointed to serve on a WHO initiative – the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine Editorial Board/Evidence Task Force. His appointment will be effective until the end of December 2023.
Matsabisa will also attend the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit in India in August, after being invited to serve as a member of the Summit External Advisory Group for the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit (‘Advisory Group’).
The appointment of Nyoni, current chairperson of the board of directors for the Africa Interprofessional Education Network (AfrIPEN), and deputy chair of the Board for Interprofessional.Global – a global confederation of inter-professional networks based in the Netherlands – will be effective for two years.
The WHO Academy is a priority initiative of the WHO transformation agenda and will support accelerated learning and skills recognition of staff and external stakeholders to advance the implementation of the WHO’s strategic plan and ‘triple billion’ goal: ensuring that by 2023, an additional 1bn people benefit from universal health coverage; 1bn more are afforded better protection in health emergencies, and 1bn more enjoy improved health and well-being.
Work and contribution recognised
“I am thrilled. This is an exciting opportunity to be recognised by an organisation like the WHO to serve in the capacity of adviser. It is a huge feather in my cap, our School of Nursing, and the faculty. My work and contribution are being recognised and I hope to make an impact in this committee and to also learn from it,” said Nyoni.
Despite the pressure of representing the continent, Nyoni believes his experience with global organisations will be an advantage. He is ready to take on the challenge, give it his best, and leave a legacy of excellence.
“Due to the complexity of health professions education in our context, our different cultural, geographical and socio-economic issues, it is an interesting concept to actually think of representing an entire region. I have worked in and continue to work in many countries in Africa through various research projects and with postgraduate students, which provides some insight into what is happening in the region, but often one needs to know more.”
Global knowledge centre for traditional medicine
For Matsabisa, who is also the chairperson of the WHO Regional Expert Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicine (REACT), it is rewarding to be recognised by serving in such world bodies.
The WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO-GCTM) was established in 2022 as a global knowledge centre for traditional medicine to harness the potential of traditional medicine from across the world through modern science and technology, to improve the health of people and the planet.
Matsabisa said: “I am always ready and prepared to embrace such responsibilities and challenges. I am thrilled knowing that my expertise and experience are recognised so far from home. I will give it my all and put my heart and soul into this task.”
He looks forward to seeing the WHO develop tools and guidelines to promote the institutionalisation of traditional medicine and to devise positive resolutions on how to take these forward.
He said the world was finally taking traditional medicine seriously, and its important role in healthcare.
“It is unfortunate that, at home, we have sceptics and people who are blind to the importance of traditional medicines. The WHO is now seriously taking the lead in giving advice and guidelines on traditional medicines, which makes me extremely happy."
Africa’s natural resources and its indigenous knowledge were important tools for development and to attain economic freedom, he added.
“If we could move away from the ‘thinking about resources’ to a knowledge-based economy, we could take the continent out of poverty, famine and wars, and redirect resources to development, technical skills development, and wealth generation for all.”
Issued by the University of the Free State