The Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) conference was held from 06 to 09 April at ATKV Goudini Spa in the Western Cape, with one of the themes being “Uniting Voices for Public Health Impact.” The Albert Luthuli Leadership Platform for Health (ALLP-Health) presented their original research during a masterclass, which drew over 85 participants.

The session was moderated by Dr Moeketsi Modisenyane, a health systems and public health policymaker and researcher, and Professor Flavia Senkubuge from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Dr Camille Castelyn and Ziyanda Ngcobo brought forward the youth perspective, exploring how the challenges of Universal Health Coverage and leadership in the face of multiple polycrises can be addressed through evidence-informed decision-making and cultivating a new generation of change agents to counter the politicisation of healthcare.

ALLP-Health was established as an output of the Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Fellowship. In 2022, it marked a milestone by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa. Housed within the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute (ALLI), ALLP-Health operates through a collaborative effort between the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

“I really enjoyed hosting the session with my colleagues. I was fascinated by the audience's questions and their diverse views on leadership. It was equally inspiring to meet people who are working tirelessly in the public healthcare space to be the change they want to see. I left the conference feeling energised and committed to advancing ALLP-Health’s goals of reimagining health leadership. The 18th World Congress on Public Health is taking place in Cape Town next year, and I look forward to us attending again!" — Dr Camille Castelyn