Dr. Blessings Malama Kasenge (Zambia) has been appointed the Deputy Head of the Health Cluster for the Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF), marking a significant advancement in youth-led health advocacy. This appointment recognizes Dr. Kasenge’s unwavering commitment to health.
A prominent global health leader, Dr. Honourable Kasenge has always aimed to make a meaningful impact on underprivileged communities. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology (BSc.HB) and a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) from the University of Zambia, along with certificates in implementation science and epidemiology from the University of Washington. Currently, he serves as a Research Clinician at the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), focusing on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and tobacco control. His role as Programs Manager at BeRelevant Africa, a Zambian youth-led organization dedicated to nurturing young leaders, further underscores his commitment to youth development.
Dr. Kasenge’s passion for tobacco control and public health has seen him represent Zambia as an African Young Ambassador on Tobacco Control. His participation in the Africa Young Ambassadors summit, hosted by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CFTK) in Cape Town, allowed him to advocate for crucial health policies. Additionally, he has gathered invaluable experience as a delegate at various continental fora focusing on public health, leadership, and governance across Ghana, Malawi, Botswana, South Africa, and Rwanda. His role as Zambia’s representative on the SADC Youth Parliament has enabled him to champion issues related to health, tobacco control, and youth development regionally.
In media and communications, Hon. Kasenge finds fulfillment as a part-time Radio and TV host of the Teledoctor show, which aims to bridge public health information gaps. He also contributes as a health columnist for Zambia’s largest national newspaper, the Zambia Daily Mail, extending his influence on public health discourse in the region.
As the newly appointed Deputy Head of the Health Cluster at SAYoF, Hon. Kasenge is poised to affect health policies and decision-making processes on a broader scale. His aspiration to penetrate key policy spaces reflects his dedication to fostering transformative change for youth and underserved communities. In response to his appointment, Dr. Kasenge expressed gratitude for the opportunity, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving sustainable health outcomes for Southern Africa. He will join the Head of Cluster Dr. Vivian Justin Joseph from United Republic Tanzania.
