#14
Dr Githinji Gitahi
GROUP CEO AMREF HEALTH AFRICA
The Covid-19 pandemic docked on the Kenya shores early March 2020. Since then, the scourge has inflicted enormous strain on the economic and social fabric of the Kenyan nation, exposing long-standing albeit very well-known gaps and lapses in health coverage in the country.
The situation has been exacerbated by a dearth in accurate information and an honest sharing of knowledge already in the realm of leading media space and respected medical and health journals.
One person who has clearly led from the front in sharing facts and giving timely, honest and often courageous information to help manage and contain the Covid-19 Pandemic, is Dr Githinji Gitahi.
Dr Githinji Gitahi is the Group Chief Executive Officer at AMREF Health Africa since June 2015, having joined them from Smile Train, where Dr Gitahi was Vice-president. Amref Health Africa, founded in 1957, is the largest Africa-led international organization, reaching more than 11 million people each year through 150 health-focused projects across 35 countries.
A graduate of University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery MBBS 1990-1996, Dr Gitahi also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Marketing Management from the United States International University-Africa. He then read Strategic Perspectives for Non-Profit Management in 2016 at Havard University.
In addition to demonstrating strong leadership traits in health, insurance and media, Dr Gitahi is currently one of the most distinguished thought leaders in the healthcare industry and policy, a space he demonstrated his acumen and vision since the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dr Gitahi is also recognized this year for his contribution to the healthcare society welfare through 50 tips he shared with the world, as his contribution to society, having turned 50 in 2020.
A passionate advocate for pro-poor Universal Health Coverage, Githinji Gitahi also served as General Manager for Marketing and Circulation in East Africa for the Nation Media Group. He held progressively senior positions at GlaxoSmithKline and worked at the Avenue Group.
Dr Gitahi is co-Chair of the UHC2030 Steering Committee, a global World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO) initiative for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He serves on a number of Boards, notably – Board of Directors of The Standard Group in Kenya, Board of Trustees of Safaricom Foundation and Governing Board of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and prevention (Africa CDC).
In December 2018, Dr Gitahi was bestowed the ‘Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear’ (MBS) award by the President of Kenya in recognition of his outstanding contribution and commitment to the health sector in Kenya.
CITATION
- Pro-poor UHC Advocacy
- Thought Leadership in Healthcare Industry and Policy
- Non-Profit Management
- Knowledge Sharing and Dissemination
- Global Organisation Management and Marketing
- CSR
- Public Services Sustainability
