A bold new initiative to transform health communication across Africa officially began last week, as the first cohort of the Africa Health Communications Fellowship (AHCF) came together for their inaugural community session and public lecture. This fellowship programme, hosted by fraycollege, brings together journalists and health experts from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia to deliver stronger, evidence-based narratives around public health on the continent.
A Vision for African Health Communication
The Africa Health Communications Fellowship is designed to equip African health professionals and communicators with the skills, tools, and networks to improve public health messaging.
The programme, which runs till November, combines expert-led webinars, self-paced e-learning modules, interactive assignments, community calls and an in-person conference to build a supportive learning environment for its fellows. The project also centres African expertise and lived experiences, reflecting a commitment to local ownership and narrative power in public health.
The project aims to:
- Strengthen the capacity of African storytellers to translate complex health data into engaging, actionable stories.
- Support fellows in using strategic communication techniques to influence public behaviour and health policy.
- Promote a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach between health professionals and journalists.
- Counter misinformation and amplify Africa-centred perspectives in public health discourse.
A Week of Firsts: From Community Call to Public Lecture
The fellowship officially launched last Wednesday with a virtual community call where the inaugural cohort met for the first time. The call created a space for introductions, shared expectations, and reflections on the importance of collaborative learning in improving health outcomes.
The energy carried into Friday’s inaugural public lecture, an interactive keynote delivered by Dr Ifeanyi Nsofor, a leading African public health physician and behavioural science expert. In a session that combined storytelling, lived experience, and practical guidance, Dr Nsofor challenged African communicators to reclaim the health narratives of the continent.
“We must run away from the danger of a single story. What Africa is, who we are, our challenges and our innovations—only we can tell that in full,” Dr Nsofor said.
He emphasised that storytelling is not only a vehicle for empathy and connection but a strategy for professional impact. Drawing on his own recognition as a global health leader, Dr Nsofor urged participants to sharpen their storytelling abilities and embrace their role as custodians of African narratives.
A New Chapter in Health Advocacy
Through the Africa Health Communications Fellowship, fraycollege is building a pan-African movement of communicators who can influence behaviour, policy, and practice. Fellows will continue their journey through themed webinar sessions, skill-building modules, and opportunities to contribute stories that amplify African health experiences and innovations.
As the first week concluded, Dr Nsofor left fellows and guests with a lasting call to action:
“Telling our stories isn’t just advocacy—it’s our responsibility.”
