In a significant honour, Dr Gérard Filies, Chairperson of the Interprofessional Education Unit (IPEU) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), has been acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO) for his expertise in advancing interprofessional education.

This recognition underscores Dr Filies' commitment to enhancing healthcare education and practice through collaboration.

Dr Filies also serves as the Chairperson of the Africa Interprofessional Education Network (AfrIPEN). His recent invitation to join the Curriculum Development Advisory Group under the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) highlights his leadership in shaping healthcare education across the continent. This group will advise on the development of a prototype competency-based curricula tailored to the needs of health professions programmes in Africa, aiming to strengthen the region's healthcare workforce.

From November 12 to 14, 2024, Dr Filies will participate in the Africa Health Professions Education Dialogue in Lusaka, Zambia. This important event will focus on building consensus around essential competencies for developing these curricula, aligning with the WHO's Global Competency and Outcomes Framework for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Despite advancements in healthcare education in Africa, significant challenges remain. Issues such as limited training resources, inadequately prepared educators, and outdated curricula hinder progress. Recognising these obstacles, the WHO is dedicated to supporting countries in implementing competency-based education.

The upcoming dialogue provides a critical platform for stakeholders to share insights and strategies, fostering collaboration across nations. The expected outcomes of this dialogue include actionable resolutions and commitments from key stakeholders to enhance health professions education. These efforts aim to empower health and social science professionals to deliver quality healthcare in an interprofessional context.
With the mission to transform health professions education across Africa, the future of healthcare delivery looks promising as they work towards creating a more integrated and effective health workforce.

This initiative represents a crucial step in addressing the educational needs of healthcare professionals, ensuring that they are well-equipped to meet the challenges of modern healthcare environments. By fostering interprofessional collaboration, Dr Filies and his colleagues are paving the way for a sustainable and effective healthcare system in Africa.