Dr. Wahba—a leader in advancing young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights in Egypt
November 22, 2022—Pathfinder has awarded the “Pathfinder Lifetime Achievement Award” to Dr. Mamdouh Wahba for his noteworthy role in improving sexual and reproductive health and rights in Egypt.
The Pathfinder Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who have forged new paths to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights over the course of their lifetime and contributed in exemplary ways to furthering Pathfinder’s mission.
Dr. Wahba established the Egyptian Family Health Society in 1983. The Society has been the leading organization in Egypt offering sexual and reproductive health education and advocating for adolescent medicine as a subspecialty in medical and nursing schools. He founded the Arab Coalition for Adolescent Medicine in June 2014 and the Egyptian Society for Adolescent Medicine in July 2014, the only organizations promoting adolescent health in Egypt and the region. In 2016, he persuaded the International Association for Adolescent Health to include coverage in the Middle East and North Africa region and consequently served as the Vice President for the region.
In 1994, Dr. Wahba, as Assistant Minister of Population in Egypt, led the session for young people at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development—a pivotal moment where the global community, for the first time, committed to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights related to sexual and reproductive health. Since then, he has devoted his time and effort to improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in Egypt and other Arab countries.
Dr. Wahba, a physician who graduated in 1964 from Ain Shams University in Cairo, specialized in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He obtained membership, a faculty position, and fellowship at the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology in London.
Dr. Wahba received his award from Pathfinder’s Board of Directors on November 4. The nomination process included competing nominations submitted from Pathfinder’s offices around the world.
“We are honored to give this award to Dr. Mamdouh,” said Collin Mothupi, Pathfinder’s Board Chair. “Dr. Mamdouh has made considerable strides in creating opportunities for young people to access sexual and reproductive health education and services—a critical part of Pathfinder’s mission in Egypt and around the world.”
The work Dr. Wahba has done in Egypt has allowed sexual and reproductive health programs in the country to flourish since Pathfinder began operating in Egypt in 1979. His legacy continues to contribute to our work today, including the USAID/Egypt Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program, the Ma’an (Together) Project, and the new USAID-funded OSRA (Family) Program.
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Pathfinder works with local partners to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights around the world—including those affected by poverty, conflict, climate change, and natural disasters. Taken together, Pathfinder’s programs enable millions of people to choose their own paths forward.
