• Group photo after Opening ceremony of the Regional Policy Dialogue on HWF in Accra Ghana todayGroup photo after Opening ceremony of the Regional Policy Dialogue on HWF in Accra Ghana today
  • Miami International Conference on the Future of Health Professionals Education ended as great success. With champions Chen Frenk Evans Fineberg Garcia and OmaswaMiami International Conference on the Future of Health Professionals Education ended as great success. With champions Chen Frenk Evans Fineberg Garcia and Omaswa
  • ACHEST and Board Memebers bid farewell Carol Natukunda the out-going Communication SpecialistACHEST and Board Memebers bid farewell Carol Natukunda the out-going Communication Specialist
  • ACHEST Staff take a photo during the send off of Imamura Mariko the JICA oficialACHEST Staff take a photo during the send off of Imamura Mariko the JICA oficial
  • Prof. Francis Omaswa with members of the Uganda Medical Association and medical interns after meeting President Museveni in June 2021.v1Prof. Francis Omaswa with members of the Uganda Medical Association and medical interns after meeting President Museveni in June 2021.v1
  • HEPI SYMPOSIUM Makerere2HEPI SYMPOSIUM Makerere2
  • ACHEST Staff pose for a group Photo after the first face-to-face meeting after COVID-19ACHEST Staff pose for a group Photo after the first face-to-face meeting after COVID-19
  • JICA 2 Agreement Assigning at ACHEST OfficesJICA 2 Agreement Assigning at ACHEST Offices
  • ACHEST Ministry of Health and Director Mulago hospital during the launch of the Intern Hand BookACHEST Ministry of Health and Director Mulago hospital during the launch of the Intern Hand Book
  • With AFREHEALTH and ECSAWith AFREHEALTH and ECSA
  • Group photo after the Opening ceremony of the Regional Policy Dialogue on HWF in Accra Ghana.
  • Miami International Conference on the Future of Health Professionals Education ended as a great success. With champions Chen Frenk Evans Fineberg Garcia and Omaswa.
  • ACHEST and Board Members bid farewell to Carol Natukunda the out-going Communication Specialist
  • ACHEST Staff take a photo during the send-off of Imamura Mariko the JICA official
  • Prof. Francis Omaswa with members of the Uganda Medical Association and medical interns after meeting President Museveni in June 2021.
  • HEPI SYMPOSIUM Makerere2
  • ACHEST Staff pose for a group photo after the first face-to-face meeting after COVID-19
  • JICA 2 Agreement Assigning at ACHEST Offices
  • ACHEST Ministry of Health and Director Mulago hospital during the launch of the Intern Hand Book
  • With AFREHEALTH and ECSA

Welcome to ACHEST

  1. ......

The African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST) is an initiative promoted by a network of African and international leaders in health and development. It is an independent Think Tank and a network.

There is now abundant evidence to show that past and current efforts at identifying and implementing solutions that are handed down from outside and are not rooted in the history and culture of Africa have faced some difficulties.

Ownership of these solutions by African countries and populations has repeatedly failed to take root and as the result such solutions have not achieved their full potential and, in some cases, they have done more harm than good.

At continental and country level, ACHEST aspires to strategically promote and advocate for the use of well grounded knowledge and evidence to strengthen professionals and build institutional capacity that will provide transformational leadership to African communities, countries and the world.

ACHEST applies constructive and targeted strategic communication at all levels to catalyze the needed behavior change that will result in stronger ownership and implementation capacity for proven interventions and better health for Africa's people.

To achieve this, ACHEST will forge strategic alliances and partnerships with individuals and organizations within Africa and around the world.

World Heart Day is celebrated every year on September 29 to raise awareness, prevention, and management of heart disease.
In his message, the ACHEST Executive Director Prof. Francis Omaswa urged every individual to take responsibility for their health. Prof F. Omaswa, ED-ACHESTProf F. Omaswa, ED-ACHEST

“Heart Health starts with you as the owner of the heart. Eat the right food. Keep Prof. Francis Omaswa 1Prof. Francis Omaswa 1your weight right. Be physically active and exercise. Regularly check your blood pressure. Start today. This is simple and doable,” said Prof. Omaswa who is also a renowned cardiovascular surgeon and former founding Director of the Uganda Heart Institute and current Chair of the Uganda Gift of Life Heart Foundation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, taking an estimated 17.9 million lives each year. CVDs are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions. More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, and one third of these deaths occur prematurely in people under 70 years of age.

The behavioural risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol.

World Heart Day 2021 is focused on harnessing the power of digital health to improve awareness, prevention, and management of CVD globally. Under the theme “Use Heart to Connect” emphasis has been placed on every individual to use their knowledge, compassion, and influence and ensure that they, their families, and communities are part of the effort to live healthy lives.


To read more about CVDs, click: https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases#tab=tab_1
Compiled by Carol Natukunda