Kenyan doctor Joy Mugambi is the new Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA).
During the Council’s 27th Biennial Conference Session, Mugambi, the Kenya Medical Association (KMA) nominee, won a landslide in an event held on November 8 to 10 hosted by the India Medical Association in Chennai.
This significant appointment was made during a meeting of the CMA, where various leaders from different regions gathered to discuss important matters affecting medical practice and health policy across member nations.
Mugambi takes over from Prof J. A. Jayalal of the India Medical Association who takes over as President of CMA from Dr Muruga Raj of Malaysia Medical Association.
Before her appointment, Mugambi served CMA for two terms as the Vice President of the East, Central, and South African Region.
She is recognised for her extensive contributions to family medicine and leadership roles in various medical associations.
Mugambi is also the recipient of The Kenya Medical Association Distinguished Service Award in 2021, the Kenya Association of Family Physicians 5 Star Doctor Award in 2022 and the awardee of the Fellow of Commonwealth Medical Association Award in 2023.
Headquartered in London in the United Kingdom, CMA was established in 1962 and has grown to 54 member nations in 6 global regions.
It is a non-governmental organisation whose main aim and objective is to assist and strengthen the capacities of National Medical Associations of countries within the Commonwealth to improve the health and well-being of their communities.
Following Mugambi’s ascension to secretary-general status, Zambian Kaumba Roy Tolopu was elected to serve as Vice President East, Central, and South African (ECSA) Region taking over from Mugambi who served in this capacity. Colin Abel of Jamaica becomes the Treasurer.
Mary Coleman of Ghana was elected as Vice President of West Africa Region further cementing the representation of the Coalition of African National Medical Associations (CANMA) at CMA.
The CMA Council is the highest decision-making body of the Association consisting of the executive of the association and the President or chief executive officer of each member association.
The Executive officers comprise the President, Immediate Past President, Regional Vice Presidents, Secretary General, and the treasurer.
