Ghanaian Scientist appointed to WaterAid UK Board

Chartered Scientist Dr. Sylvia Anie, has been selected to serve on the Board of Trustees, WaterAid UK.

The former Deputy Chief Executive of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital will serve with other 12 Trustee members to spearhead the operations of WaterAid in the UK.

The international organisation works in 37 countries across Africa, Asia, Central America and the Pacific Region to transform lives, by improving access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 23 million people with safe water and, since 2004, 21 million people with sanitation.

Dr Anie’s appointment has been hailed by Ghana’s Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia, who believes she will bring significant change due to her achievements and track-record.

Her appointment was based on her more than 20 years’ management expertise and vast scientific knowledge through which she has contributed to the health sector, government and other international organisations.

Dr. Anie is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, UK.

She holds a patent for discovery of a compound used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Gastro-Intestinal Tract filed in March 1990.

Dr. Anie has made significant contributions to science and medicine with her publications documented in over 15 world-renowned science journals.

She recently retired as the Director for Social Transformation Programmes Division (STPD) at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK, and has worked at The Spastics Society in England. She also served Ghana as Director of Policy Planning, Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at the Ghana AIDS Commission.

She is a former student of Aburi Girls’ Secondary School and also studied at the University of Greenwich, England; University of Manchester, England; Open University Business School, England; International Organisation and Systems Development Centre, Ohio, USA; and Makerere University, Uganda.

The full statement from WaterAid copied to Classfmonline.com is published below:

WATERAID PRESS RELEASE

The international development organisation, WaterAid is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Sylvia Anie to its Board of Trustees.

Dr Anie is a public health and development expert and has worked in the area of sustainable development for several years on both international and national levels at senior levels and in a range of sectors including education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene.

With a great deal of scientific knowledge and intellectual leadership qualities, Dr. Anie, who is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, UK has worked with the Commonwealth Secretariat directing social transformation across 5 continents and 53 countries. She is currently a consultant scientist, dividing her time between the UK and Ghana.

Dr Anie played a pivotal role in establishing Ghana’s multi-sectoral response to HIV and AIDS. Through her work on education and health, she has facilitated and driven reforms to protect the marginalised and promote their rights to quality and affordable health, safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

She has been a member of the WaterAid Ghana Strategic Advisory Committee which has supported the country program over the past four years. Currently three million people in Ghana do not have access to clean water and approximately 80% do not have access to proper sanitation.

Dr. Afia Zakiya, Country Representative of WaterAid Ghana, states: “Dr. Anie’s Board appointment is laudable. Her guidance has been exemplary to our national efforts to have water, sanitation and hygiene recognized as essential for the health and well-being of all Ghanaians; now she will help WA achieve this mission globally.”

Tim Clark, WaterAid’s Chair of Trustees said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Anie to WaterAid. Under our new strategy, we are working towards integrating water, sanitation and hygiene provision into healthcare work, and so Dr Anie’s combined expertise in development work, health care and public health will be invaluable to us.

“Dr Anie brings with her not only a wealth of experience in making change happen but a personal commitment to our cause.”

Mr. Alex Segbefia, the Minister of Health Ghana has welcomed the appointment and said: “We are proud to hear about this achievement. Dr Anie has over the last 15 years made notable contributions to human development in Ghana. The linkages between water, sanitation, hygiene and health cannot be overemphasised and on behalf of the Government of Ghana, I wish her well. I am in no doubt that she will contribute inspirationally to the work of the WaterAid Board of Trustees.

WaterAid is governed by a Board of Trustees, who are responsible for ensuring that the charity is well-managed in line with its vision and mission and that it abides by its charitable objectives.

WaterAid in the UK currently has 12 Trustees who all give up their time and energy voluntarily to ensure that WaterAid is compliant with the legal and statutory requirements of a UK charity and registered company.

………Signed……….

Dr Afia Zakiya, Country Representative, WaterAid Ghana

Tony Goodman, Head, Public Relations, Ministry of Health, Accra

Kafui Nyaku, Communications and Campaigns Officer, WaterAid Ghana