In November 2023, Tanu Soni, IHTM 2021, attended the 2023 International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Lusaka, Zambia. The annual conference provides a unique African-led platform for leaders across the continent to reflect on lessons learned in health and science, and create more resilient health systems.
Tanu represented UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST) as a Lead for the project which she joined as a Capacity Strengthening Officer after graduating from IHTM in 2022.
At the conference, Tanu presented at the 2nd Annual African Health Diplomacy Symposium side event, and unveiled the co-developed UK-PHRST and Africa CDC Global Health Diplomacy course focusing on outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics.
The course supports African leaders as they advocate for the health needs of their countries and will help build stronger global health security while advancing the New Public Health Order for Africa.
The aims of the course are to enhance leadership and global health diplomacy skillsets across the African continent, develop refreshed tools and frameworks for health diplomacy post COVID-19 and develop evidence-based resources relevant to African public health situations. The course generated considerable interest at the event and is scheduled to commence in 2024.
Tanu says,
It was a tremendous opportunity to launch the first ever African Leadership Course on Global Health Diplomacy. Thanks to IHTM's invaluable teachings, I've built a solid foundation that empowers me to critically engage with diverse evidence crucial for my projects. The course not only sharpened a wide range of skills, spanning from communication to teamwork, but also equipped me to lead effectively in a multidisciplinary environment and collaborate with partners.
IHTM's quality training played a pivotal role in my specialized areas, International Development in Health (IDH) and Health Management, deepening my understanding of global health challenges. In my role, I persist in addressing issues within resource-constrained settings while applying the research techniques I mastered during my time at IHTM.