Renthia Kaimbi
Former minister of health and social services Dr Richard Kamwi has been appointed president of the Society for AIDS in Africa following a leadership handover ceremony and executive board transition meeting held from 14 to 15 May in Accra, Ghana.
The event took place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel and marked a leadership transition for the organisation, which focuses on strengthening Africa’s response to HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, emerging infectious diseases and broader public health issues.
The handover was conducted under the constitution of the Society for AIDS in Africa and overseen by the Board of Trustees, which is made up of professor Robert Soudre of Burkina Faso, professor Sheila Tlou of Botswana, and Dr Meskerem Grunitzky of Ethiopia.
The ceremony brought together public health leaders, researchers, policymakers, civil society representatives and development partners from across Africa.
The newly formed governing board includes Mohamed Chakroun, Aliou Sylla, Morenike Ukpong, Benjamin Djoudalbaye, Avelin Aghokeng Forang, Richard Nchabi Kamwi, Jeanine Condo and Florence Ria Anam.
From the governing board, the trustees confirmed Kamwi as president, Aliou Sylla of Mali as treasurer, Jeanine Condo of Rwanda as secretary general, Mohamed Chakroun of Tunisia as vice president, Florence Ria Anam of Kenya as deputy treasurer, and Avelin Aghokeng Forang of Cameroon as deputy secretary general.
The board of trustees also appointed outgoing SAA president David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa to serve on the board of trustees.
In his inaugural address, Kamwi thanked members for the trust placed in the new leadership and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s public health response through cooperation, scientific leadership and advocacy.
“In order for us to deliver, there must be unity. We must work hard. We must make sure that we interact with the member states… And to make sure we work closely with the outgoing chief. Those who have been there since 1989… Remember, experience is simply the best teacher,” he told local media.
Kamwi also paid tribute to his predecessor, Parirenyatwa, for his contribution to strengthening the organisation’s role in scientific exchange, policy discussions and health advocacy across the continent.
He said implementing the SAA 2023–2027 Strategic Plan remains a key priority and highlighted the need to strengthen health systems, increase domestic funding, expand African-led research and vaccine manufacturing, improve pandemic preparedness and ensure equal access to life-saving technologies.
Kamwi said Africa must shift from depending on global health innovation to becoming a producer and leader in scientific and public health development.
The new leadership also pledged to strengthen cooperation with governments, regional institutions, development partners, civil society groups, researchers, women, youth and communities to improve responses to HIV and other health challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the SAA secretariat, International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa director and SAA coordinator Luc Armand Bodea congratulated the new board and thanked the outgoing leadership for its service.
The Society for AIDS in Africa was founded in 1989 during the fourth International Symposium on AIDS and Associated Cancers in Africa held in Marseille, France.
The organisation was formed by African scientists, activists and advocates in response to the HIV epidemic and later established its permanent secretariat in Accra, Ghana, in 2009.
The organisation says it remains committed to promoting African-led solutions and strengthening health systems across the continent.
