Abdikamal A.

As Director of NonCommunicable Diseases cluster (NCD), which is a newly created entity to lead the efforts of the WHO Regional Office for Africa to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors. I spearhead four program areas of thrust—namely: i) primary prevention through tobacco control, reduction of harmful use of alcohol, consumption of healthy diet, and promotion of physical activity; ii) integrated disease management through introduction and scale up of package of essential NCD management at primary health care level; iii) Mental Health and Substance Abuse with focus on community based treatment, care, and support, and iv) Prevention and control of violence, injuries, and disabilities through intersectoral collaboration and community participation. A common strategy of all NCD programs is prioritization of population-based approach and orientation of the health systems to include essential NCD intervention packages into universal health coverage schemes. I have extensive public health experience from humanitarian relief work, to maternal and child health, to HIV/AIDS, health survey research, malaria, and non-communicable diseases. I held various WHO positions in several countries and the regional office. In addition, I worked with international organizations, such as Management Sciences for Health (MSH) and MACRO International (DHS) as Senior Child Health advisor and Senior Health Researcher—respectively. I graduated from Somali National University with Laura in Medicine and Surgery in 1979, and received post graduate degree in public health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health & Hygiene in 1988. Furthermore, I am a contributing member of the American Public Health Association.