AFRICA— The International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), Academy of Quality and Safety in Health Care (IAQS), has welcomed two new members from Africa, South African, Prof. Ethelwynn Stellenberg, and Kenyan Dr. Lydia Okutoyi, into its prestigious ranks.

ISQua established The International Academy of Quality & Safety (IAQS) as a prestigious institution to honor distinguished individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of Quality and Safety in Healthcare.

IAQS notes that membership in the Academy is not just a recognition, but a lifelong honor that signifies the highest level of achievement and distinction for individuals working in the healthcare sector.

The body is currently a touchstone, a mark of excellence of leadership within research, academia, or service delivery in quality and safety.

These members are carefully selected based on their outstanding expertise, remarkable accomplishments, and profound impact on the advancement of healthcare quality and safety.

IAQS insists that its members serve as ambassadors for excellence, embodying the core values of quality, safety, and patient-centred care.

In a statement, IAQS acknowledged that they were pleased to welcome Alan Forster, Ana Terezinha Rodrigues, Anuradha Pichumani, Astolfo Franco, Ethelwynn Stelleneberg, Kathrin Cresswell, Kazue Nakajima, Kris Vanhaecht, Lydia Okutoyi, Pankaj Kumar Arora, Rakesh Verma, Richard Greenhill, Robyn Hudson, and Tina Janamian to our esteemed membership.

“Each of these individuals brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a deep passion for improving healthcare quality and safety. Their addition further enriches the collective expertise of IAQS, amplifying our efforts to drive positive change and innovation in the healthcare landscape,” the statement read.

Defining Quality and Safety in Kenya

Dr. Lydia Okutoyi is the director of healthcare quality, at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), Nairobi, and founding president of the Society for Quality Healthcare Kenya.

Dr. Okutoyi is a senior medical Specialist with 17 years of experience in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, having Chaired the departmental Quality assurance committee in Reproductive Health at KNH.

The KNH director has an extensive education with a Master’s in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (MMed) from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Roehampton UK,

She has also trained in Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership (SQIL) from the Harvard Medical School, a Postgraduate Diploma in Hospital Management at Strathmore University, and she is a fellow with the International Society of Health Care (FISQua).

Dr. Okutoyi, who also doubles up as the President Society for Quality Healthcare Kenya, believes that life’s teachings can adequately prepare one for the various roles one has to play in life.

In a recent interview with the KNW newsletter publication team, Dr. Okutoyi recognized that for women in leadership to operate at their optimum, a balance between the various facets of life is necessary.

 “Women in healthcare face multiple challenges today and in my opinion, it is critical for them to strike a balance between the various facets of life. Striking the correct balance in self-care and social life is key if women are to continue winning,” Dr. Okutoyi added.

Educating generations of healthcare professionals in South Africa

Prof. Ethelwynn Stellenberg is emeritus associate professor, in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at Stellenbosch University and the national chairperson of the South African Medico-Legal Association.

Prof. Stellenberg is also a board member of the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa NPC (COHSASA), the Africa region leading healthcare accreditation body.

She received her undergraduate education, in nursing at the University of the Western Cape, and completed most post-graduate qualifications at the University of Stellenbosch.

Prof. Steenberg’s extensive qualifications include a doctorate degree in Nursing, master’s in nursing, Honour’s degree in Nursing Education and Community Health Nursing, and obtained postgraduate diplomas in Nursing Administration, Intensive Care Nursing, and Psychiatric Nursing Science.

She worked as an academic in nursing for 25 years at the University of Stellenbosch and was appointed an Emeritus Associate Professor in 2019.

Currently, she is still an active academic at the university, busy with project work in building capacity of Nurse Leaders in leadership and management, supervising masters, and PhD students.

She was also a ministerial appointment to serve on the Board of the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) for two terms and was a pioneering appointment of the first board in 2014.

Prominently, her actions to uplift the poor in the Western Cape efforts are focused, principled, and waste-free.

For example, a school in Kuilsriver where approached a Japanese shipping company for donations to facilitate the school’s programs.

This project and many others like it including one at the West Coast fishing village of Paternoster which is now a popular tourist resort have earned Prof Stellenberg the University of Stellenbosch Rector’s award for excellence in community engagement.

The academy remarked that it extended its heartfelt congratulations to the new IAQS members and express our gratitude to all the distinguished individuals who have devoted their careers to improving healthcare quality and safety.

“Together, we will continue to make a significant impact and drive transformative change, ensuring a brighter and safer future for patients around the world,” concluded the appointment statement.

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