Former President of the World Medical Association, WMA, and founding Coordinator of CANMA, Dr Osahon Enabulele, has hailed CANMA and WMA for successfully implementing the coalition’s first Leadership Training Workshop for African physicians and National Medical Associations, NMAs.
Recall that the African medical leadership received a significant boost in Livingstone, Zambia, at the weekend, as the Coalition of African National Medical Associations (CANMA) and the World Medical Association (WMA) successfully concluded it’s first Leadership Training Workshop.
Enabulele, who was a former WMA President described the development as the fulfilment of a vision conceived and commenced during his tenure.
The landmark workshop brought together African physicians and National Medical Associations (NMAs), underscoring efforts to strengthen medical leadership and collaboration across the continent.
Enabulele, who served concurrently as President of the WMA and founding Coordinator of CANMA, said he was particularly delighted that the initiative had been successfully implemented under the current leadership of CANMA, led by Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa.
“I am delighted that what we dreamt of and initiated during our tenure has finally been brought to fruition by the current leadership of CANMA,” he said.
According to him, the successful workshop represented an important step towards strengthening medical leadership across the African continent while enhancing the collective voice of African physicians within the WMA and other international bodies.
He said the programme had achieved its core objectives of strengthening the leadership capacity of African physicians, National Medical Associations and CANMA, while promoting greater cooperation among medical associations across the continent.
“I am particularly pleased that this leadership workshop has achieved its core objectives of strengthening the leadership capacity of African physicians, National Medical Associations and CANMA,” he said.
“It is also important that we continue to strengthen the voice of Africa within the World Medical Association and other global bodies. This workshop provides a strong platform for achieving that objective.”
The former NMA President, who was scheduled to deliver a presentation titled, “Leadership, Identity, and Pan-African Solidarity,” also congratulated CANMA, WMA and the host Zambia Medical Association, led by Dr Phiri Masiku, for the successful organisation of the programme.
“I heartily congratulate CANMA, the World Medical Association and the Zambia Medical Association for the successful organisation of this important leadership workshop,” he said.
Enabulele also recognised the contributions of individuals involved in the conception, planning and eventual realisation of the workshop, acknowledging former WMA Secretary General, Dr Otmar Kloiber, and his successor, Dr Ramin Parsa-Parsi.
He further acknowledged the immediate past Presidents of the Zambia Medical Association and Kenya Medical Association, Dr Roy Tolopu Kaumba and Dr Simon Kigondu respectively; Dr Elizabeth Gitau; and the Chief Executive Officer of the South African Medical Association, SAMA, Dr Mzu Nodikida.
The former WMA President also commended the current President of the WMA, Dr Jacqueline Kitulu, for her contribution to the success of the initiative.
“I sincerely appreciate all those who played different roles in the process of organising this workshop, including those who contributed at the earlier stages of its initiation and planning,” Enabulele said.
“I equally appreciate all the participants whose contributions and engagement made the workshop worthwhile.”
The workshop comes against the background of CANMA’s founding objective of promoting collaboration, solidarity and a stronger collective voice among African National Medical Associations.
Established in October 2016 by Enabulele and other medical leaders, CANMA was conceived to advance cooperation among African medical associations and strengthen their collective voice.
Enabulele, who is also a former President of the Commonwealth Medical Association, CMA, expressed optimism that the gains recorded through the workshop would be sustained and leveraged to advance the founding objectives of CANMA.
He said the successful completion of the programme had further demonstrated the importance of sustained collaboration among African medical associations, stressing that the gains achieved should be consolidated.
“I am hopeful that the gains achieved during the workshop will be consolidated and leveraged upon to further advance the founding objectives of CANMA,” Enabulele said.
He added: “The future of African medical leadership depends significantly on our ability to work together, strengthen our institutions and ensure that the voice of African physicians is heard and respected in global health governance.”
The successful conclusion of the three-day programme therefore marks the implementation of an initiative that began during Enabulele’s tenure and has now been taken forward by the current CANMA leadership in collaboration with the WMA.
For Enabulele, the development represents more than the completion of a workshop; it reflects the continued pursuit of stronger leadership capacity, greater cooperation among African medical associations and a more collective African voice within the WMA and other international bodies.
The emphasis, as expressed by the former NMA and WMA President, remains firmly on sustaining the gains of the workshop, strengthening institutions and deepening collaboration among African physicians and their National Medical Associations.
The three-day workshop which was jointly organised by CANMA and WMA, held from Tuesday, August 18 to Thursday, August 20, 2026, bringing together an important initiative designed to strengthen the leadership capacity of African physicians, NMAs and CANMA.
