Global Impact, Local Roots: A Full-Circle Moment | Jacqueline N. Fonkwo

Some professional moments carry a little more meaning than others. This was one of them.

During the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, I had the privilege of leading PSI’s engagement with Cameroon’s Minister of Public Health, His Excellency Dr. Malachie MANAOUDA, alongside PSI President Michael Holscher and Vice President Dr. Susan Mpanga Mukasa. Our conversation focused on PSI’s work in Cameroon, our ambition to expand our programming, and, importantly, our commitment to working collaboratively with the Ministry of Public Health.

We discussed the importance of aligning our work with national priorities and complementing the Ministry’s efforts to deliver meaningful and sustainable impact for women and girls across Cameroon.

For me, this meeting was particularly special. I was trained as a physician in Cameroon and began my career serving within its health system before my journey took me into global health. To now have the opportunity, through my work, to engage the Minister of Public Health of my own country and contribute to conversations about how we can strengthen programs for Cameroonian women and girls felt like a meaningful full-circle moment.

I also had the opportunity to lead another PSI engagement with Dr. Shalom J. Tchokfe Ndoula, Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization at Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Health, together with Dr. Susan Mukasa and Malcolm Quigley. Our conversation reinforced the importance of partnership, alignment, and listening as we consider PSI’s continued contribution in Cameroon.

This was my third UN General Assembly experience.

Amid the packed schedules, highly relevant side events, and wonderful encounters with colleagues from across the world, these conversations stood out. I will remember them as one of those pivotal moments in my career, and as a reminder of how meaningful it is when the work we do globally creates an opportunity to contribute back home.

Dr. Jacqueline Fonkwo at the Open Dreams Center Yaoundé with Open Dreams Scholars

Jacqueline N. Fonkwo, MD, MSc, MBA(c)

Global Health & Development | Business of Health|Commonwealth Scholar|Mandela Washington Fellow | Open Dreams Population Services International Elvis Ndansi Christopher Lourenco Milly Kaggwa#UNGA81 #GlobalHealth #Cameroon #Partnerships #HealthSystems #PSI

Dr. Fredy Nsia, Dr. Muluh Penn, Dr. Jacqueline Fonkwo, James Akaba (CD), Dr. Letitia Ababoh & Dr. Karen Essiane Davide, part of the OD Health Team. Dr. Jacqueline Fonkwo is one of the pioneer leaders of "OD Health"