Applied Microbiology International (AMI) is delighted to announce its 2024 Honorary Fellowship goes to Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, who serves as Deputy Executive Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme.

Chikwe

AMI Honorary Fellowships are given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to or impact on the field of applied microbiology. Honorary Fellows of AMI are nominated and chosen each year by the organisation’s membership.

Prior to joining WHO, Dr Ihekweazu was the first Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), leading the agency between 2016 and 2021.

Public health leadership

Dr Ihekweazu trained as an infectious disease epidemiologist and has more than 25 years’ experience working in senior public health and leadership positions in several National Public Health Institutes, including NCDC, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the UK Health Protection Agency, and Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI). He has led several short-term engagements for WHO, mainly in response to major infectious disease outbreaks around the world.

“Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu’s leadership in public health, particularly during the Ebola and COVID-19 crises, has been nothing short of exemplary,” said AMI chief executive Dr Lucy Harper.

“His work at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) set a global benchmark for managing infectious diseases under challenging circumstances. By navigating these crises with effectiveness and foresight, Dr Ihekweazu not only protected millions but also showcased the resilience of public health systems in Africa.

“His expertise continues to make a profound impact at the World Health Organization, and I can think of no one more deserving of this prestigious recognition.”

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