How Women of the CPA are Accelerating Healthcare Progress Across the Commonwealth

International Women’s Day 2024: Invest in women—accelerate progress

Leading with Impact: How Women of the CPA are Accelerating Healthcare Progress Across the Commonwealth

At the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association, we believe that investing in women leaders is a catalyst for transformative change in healthcare worldwide. Our leadership team, predominantly composed of women, exemplifies this commitment. Their outstanding contributions drive global efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), elevate healthcare practices, and cultivate leadership within the pharmacy profession.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day with the theme ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress,’ we proudly spotlight three women who have notably demonstrated our unwavering commitment to fostering leadership and professional development across the Commonwealth: Chiko Savieli, Maxencia Nabiryo, and Tara van der Vliet.

Chiko Savieli: A Leader Shaping the Future of Pharmacy in the Commonwealth

As a clinical pharmacist with over two decades of experience in the UK and Malawi, Chiko’s dedication and achievements as an alumnus of the NHS Leadership Academy exemplify her profound impact on the CPA. Her unwavering focus is on developing and leading teams dedicated to patient-centred healthcare delivery.

Within the CPA, Chiko spearheads the development and coordination of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses and groundbreaking leadership programs—all tailored to meet the evolving needs of Commonwealth pharmacists. It’s through her vision and guidance that the Africa Leadership Fellowship-Antimicrobial Stewardship (ALF-A) emerged. This pioneering program was born from the UK Chief Pharmaceutical Officer’s Global Health Fellowship and a comprehensive 2021 scoping study. ALF-A empowers African pharmacists to lead systemic changes and address healthcare challenges within their countries.

Chiko understands that the success of ALF-A goes beyond technical skills. The program, which welcomes early- to mid-career pharmacists from eight African countries, weaves comprehensive leadership development training throughout its curriculum. Fellows leave equipped to implement AMS strategies, lead improvement interventions that foster interprofessional collaboration, and champion team-based approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

In her own words, Chiko Savieli expresses her passion for investing in women and the impact of their leadership in healthcare:

“Investing in women means investing in a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable future. I’m committed to mentoring the next generation of female pharmacy leaders, helping them build the confidence and skills to make a difference across the Commonwealth.”

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Chiko’s story is a beacon of the transformative impact of investing in women, highlighting how their expertise and leadership can create a ripple effect, fostering the growth of future female leaders in healthcare across the Commonwealth.

Maxencia Nabiryo: Championing Antimicrobial Resistance Efforts Across the Commonwealth

Maxencia Nabiryo’s dedication and expertise have profoundly impacted the CPA’s efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across Africa. With a rich background as a public health practitioner, Maxencia has been at the forefront of implementing and managing health interventions.

Her work at Makerere University in Uganda, particularly in delivering international research in health programmes and facilitating the identification of community-based health innovations through the World Health Organization’s Social Innovation in Health Initiative, has established her as a key player in public health innovation.

Currently, as the AMR Programme Manager for the Commonwealth Partnership for Antimicrobial Stewardship (CwPAMS), Maxencia coordinates the technical delivery of the programme across eight African countries. Her role involves working closely with the Fleming Fund to enhance antimicrobial stewardship and support the generation and use of antimicrobial use data for action in Africa and Asia through the CwPAMS and SPARC programme. Maxencia’s efforts have significantly contributed to diverse strategies in tackling AMR, underlining her commitment to elevating her skills in this critical fight.

Highlight from the CwPAMS Programme

The recent Fleming Fund Delivery Partners’ event in Accra, Ghana, in September 2023, marked a significant milestone for the CwPAMS programme. The CPA team showcased their experiences in driving behaviour change in Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS). This platform allowed for the sharing of impactful work and the fostering of global collaborations.

Notably, the event facilitated the exchange of experiences and insights, particularly through the workshop presentation that Maxencia and her team delivered. It highlighted the CPA’s innovative approaches to AMS, including the CPD platform, facility-level AMS actions, and the Hub and Spoke model. These initiatives were celebrated for their contribution to workforce improvement, clinical engagement, and sustainability.

Looking ahead to 2024, the CwPAMS2 technical team, guided by Maxencia, is embarking on support and monitoring visits across Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. These visits aim to provide support to health partnership teams and showcase the achievements in combating AMR. With an innovative hub-and-spoke model and a One Health approach, the team is set to introduce new dimensions to their work, emphasising the integration and utilisation of microbiology data.

Maxencia shares her vision and the impact of investing in women in healthcare:

“Our collective efforts in fighting AMR are a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation. As a woman in healthcare, I believe our perspectives and leadership can drive significant advancements in public health.”

Maxencia’s leadership and contributions to the CwPAMS programme embody the CPA’s commitment to investing in women and combating antimicrobial resistance, showcasing the significant impact of female leadership in global health initiatives.

Tara van der Vliet: Building Global Partnerships for Sustainable Healthcare

The CPA firmly believes that investing in women leaders is essential to achieving progress in health outcomes around the world. Tara van der Vliet embodies this philosophy through her multifaceted work and dedication to stakeholder management and collaborative healthcare initiatives. Tara holds a dual role, working for both the CPA and volunteering for CASPPER (Collaboration of Australians and Sri Lankans for Pharmacy Practice, Education and Research).

The strong partnership between the CPA and CASPPER has provided an opportunity to further develop her stakeholder engagement and training capabilities, empowering her to extend her impact far beyond Sri Lanka – leading recent CPA visits to Bangladesh and Nepal.

Tara’s passion for improving healthcare in a sustainable manner ignited during a school trip to Africa where she volunteered in a medical clinic. This experience fuelled her decision to pursue a career in pharmacy and has continued to shape her approach. Her service trips to developing countries, including India, have reinforced her belief in the importance of partnering with locals in order to create meaningful and enduring advancements in healthcare.

Recognising the need for a platform dedicated to responsible aid and volunteering efforts, Tara proactively reached out to the Society of Hospital Pharmacists Australia in 2020 and spearheaded the development of a new special interest group for pharmacists with similar interests. Her manuscript on this field, published in the SHPA GRIT Journal, highlights her commitment to thoughtful and ethical engagement in global healthcare initiatives.

Since joining the CPA in 2023 as an AMS Technical Officer for the SPARC Programme, Tara’s impact has continued to grow. Her expertise in stakeholder management is instrumental in fostering strong relationships with pharmacists in Sri Lanka, supporting their professional development.

Tara’s commitment to collaboration, sustainable improvements, and stakeholder engagement shines brightly in her work:

“My passion for improving healthcare stems from recognizing that sustainable change comes from working in partnership with the very communities we seek to serve. At the CPA, I’m fortunate to facilitate collaborations that empower pharmacists and create real impact.”

Tara’s work exemplifies how investing in women can have far-reaching effects. Her dedication and expertise are shaping a better future for pharmacists across the Commonwealth, and by extension, improving the well-being of countless communities.

Empowering Women, Empowering the Commonwealth

Chiko, Maxencia, and Tara represent just a fraction of the numerous women leaders at the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association. Their stories are a powerful reminder that investing in women translates into tangible progress in addressing global health challenges, particularly antimicrobial resistance. By empowering women as leaders and mentors within the pharmacy profession, we are investing in healthier, more equitable, and sustainable communities across the Commonwealth.

As Victoria Rutter, CEO of the CPA, affirms: “Investing in women in healthcare isn’t just about representation; it’s about harnessing the power of diverse perspectives, compassionate leadership, and unwavering determination to create healthier communities across the Commonwealth.”

The CPA remains steadfast in its commitment to creating opportunities that unlock the full potential of women pharmacists worldwide and accelerating the pace of progress in healthcare.