Former President, World Medical Association (WMA) Osahon Enabulele, on Friday, October 6, 2023, bowed out from the position at an official ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda.
Enabulele was also a former President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA).
Enabulele was inaugurated as WMA President in Berlin, Germany, in 2022. He handed over the presidential mantle and the reins of office on Friday, October 6, 2023, during the General Assembly of WMA (October 4-7, 2023), which was held at the Radisson Blu hotel, Kigali, Rwanda.
Enabule, in his Valedictory address, reiterated the importance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), saying: “We’ve been advocating for resilient healthcare systems, robust primary care led by physicians, and stronger commitment to Universal Health Coverage and workforce well-being post-COVID-19. Although we’ve made some progress, global health disparities remain. It’s vital to sustain our advocacy and ensure government commitments to address issues like the 10 million health workforce deficit, brain drain, burnout, and violence in healthcare.”
Meanwhile, the newly elected President of the Association said gender equality in healthcare is not just a goal, but a necessity. It is integral to ensuring the health and well-being of all individuals, leaving no one behind.
Dr. Lujain AlQodmani, former International Relations Director of the Kuwait Medical Association in her inaugural speech at the WMA’s General Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda highlighted the glaring gender disparities that persist in healthcare worldwide.
She pointed to the shocking imbalance in COVID-19 vaccinations, where some countries saw only one woman vaccinated for every three men. The President stressed that this disparity extends beyond vaccinations to maternal healthcare, underscoring that not all women have access to the quality care she was privileged to receive.
Moreover, Dr. AlQodmani drew attention to the broader ramifications of gender inequality, such as female genital mutilation, limited access to education for girls, and child marriage. She emphasised that gender equality is not only a moral imperative, but also a fundamental requirement for achieving universal health coverage and addressing the social determinants of health effectively.
Other key issues of focus recommended to the physician leaders include the context of climate change’s impact on health, the transformation of food systems, the quest for Universal Health Coverage, the ethical implications of emerging technologies in medicine, and the vital role of youth in healthcare leadership.
Enabulele arrived at Benin Airport, Benin City, Nigeria, on Monday, October 9, 2023, to a tumultuous welcome.
Meanwhile, the WMA, on Monday, said it aims to strengthen global preparedness and response to health emergencies, counteract biological weapons research, and foster mechanisms to monitor the threat of biological weapons. It comes as a response to the rapid advances in microbiology, molecular biology, and genetic engineering, which have raised concerns about the potential misuse of these technologies for harmful purposes.
The proliferation of these technologies provides the opportunity to create novel pathogens and diseases and simplified production methods for biological weapons. Capacity to produce and effectively disperse biological weapons exists globally, threatening governments and endangering people around the world.
“We must pledge to shield humanity from the dire repercussions of biological weapons. I call on physicians, governments, and other vested stakeholders to work closely together, mobilize resources, institute effective mechanisms and capacity-building programs to vigilantly monitor and take action against the dangers posed by such weapons,” urged AlQodmani.
