Renthia Kaimbi
Former first lady Monica Geingos has been appointed as the new board chair of the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, the world’s largest alliance focused on maternal, newborn and child health.
Geingos was appointed on Wednesday and will succeed former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark when her term ends in November 2026.
The alliance, hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland, brings together nearly 1 500 partner organisations working on maternal, child and adolescent health.
Geingos accepted the appointment by pledging to prioritise the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents.
“I am deeply honoured to take on this role, and particularly to build on the exceptional leadership of Helen Clark,” Geingos said.
“At a time of profound global transition, the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights, must be treated not as peripheral concerns but as defining measures of whether societies are just, resilient and future-ready.”
She takes over leadership at a time when global health financing is under pressure and sexual and reproductive health and rights face growing opposition, including reduced funding for family planning and adolescent health services.
Clark said Geingos was well suited for the role.
“Monica brings together principled leadership with practical experience and a clear understanding that progress for women, children and adolescents depends on political courage, inclusive partnerships and sustained investment,” Clark said.
Geingos currently serves as executive chairperson of the One Economy Foundation.
Before becoming Namibia’s first lady in 2015, she spent 15 years working in the financial sector as a private equity and governance specialist.
She also co-created the #BeFree youth programme, which focuses on young people’s social, economic and sexual and reproductive health needs.
Geingos currently serves as a UNAIDS special ambassador for adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.
She recently co-chaired the Global Commission on Inequality and AIDS alongside economists Joseph Stiglitz and Michael Marmot.
WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Geingos for what he described as her strong leadership and commitment to equity.
South African health minister Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi said Africa needs strong voices to promote investment in health and human development.
India’s health minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda, said he believes Geingos will help turn global health commitments into action ahead of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
As board chair, Geingos will oversee PMNCH’s strategic direction, partnerships and advocacy work, with a focus on sustained investment in sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and adolescent health.
“The international community must protect hard-won gains, confront growing inequities and ensure that every woman and young person has access to the information, services and rights they need to make informed choices,” Geingos said.
