Wafaa M Rashed, Chair and Founder of PAPERI (Pan-African PGS Education and Research Initiative), shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Final Words to the Eleventh Cohort of the Policy Advocacy in Genetics and Genomics Course.
Dear Participants,
As the eleventh chapter of this shared journey closes, I feel immense pride and a fierce hope for what you will do next. You arrived as curious minds and leave as advocates – equipped not just with knowledge, but with the courage to turn science into just, practical policy for our peoples.
Congratulations on completing the Policy Advocacy in Genetics and Genomics Course, organized by PAPERI. You have sharpened your voices, honed your judgment, and strengthened your resolve to make genomics serve equity, dignity, and public good.
Over these weeks you wrestled with hard questions – ethics and data protection, and benefit-sharing, precision medicine and access, One Health and pandemic readiness. You debated with rigor, listened with humility, and proposed solutions grounded in evidence and empathy.
Participating Countries:
- Algeria
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Egypt
- Uganda
- Nigeria
- Lebanon
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Senegal
- India
- Syria
From this diverse map of voices you proved one thing clearly: ~when Africans and partners across regions come together, we can design policies that are ethical, locally owned, and globally respected.
My deep thanks to our Teaching Assistants (Dr. Dr.Ernest Ahamah, MLS.D from Ghana and Ms JOHNGWE Mac Juliette from Cameroon), and everyone behind the scenes whose commitment turned instruction into community. Your work converted lessons into power for change.
Carry these truths forward:
- Science without Policy is Promise without Power.
- Advocacy is the bridge from Discovery to Dignity.
- Africa’s health future should be designed by Africans, for Africans — with alliances that respect our leadership and sovereignty.
This is not farewell. It is your call to action. Use your voice in the boardroom, the lab, the legislature, and the clinic. Mobilize communities, safeguard rights, demand accountability – and keep collaborating across borders to make equity real.
‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’
– Margaret Mead
With unwavering belief in your leadership,
Dr. Wafaa M. Rashed, PhD
Founder and Chair
Pan-African PGS Education and Research Initiative (PAPERI).”
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