Garissa Governor Nathif Jama wins global health award in Paris

Garissa Governor Dr. Nathif Jama Adam has been honored with the Prestigious People’s Governors' Excellence Award in Healthcare Improvement during a high-profile gala held in Paris, France.

Dr. Nathif, who beat a competitive field of over 100 nominees from across the globe, was recognized for his outstanding leadership and commitment to transforming healthcare delivery in Garissa County—a region long marginalized by poor infrastructure and limited services.

Since returning to office in 2022, the Garissa County boss has been credited with pioneering a bold, people-centered health agenda that has expanded access to quality care for thousands of residents.

The Joint Award Steering Committee Prof. Raju Chandrasekhar, in a statement, noted that Dr. Nathif's administration swiftly reopened and restocked health facilities that had previously closed due to medicine shortages and staffing gaps, restoring services across both urban and remote communities within his first 100 days in office.

Prof. Chandrasekhar said under the Governor's leadership, Garissa has expanded its public health network to more than 110 facilities, including solar-powered rural dispensaries, maternal and child health clinics, and rehabilitated health posts in conflict-prone border areas.

The county has also increased recruitment and deployment of medical personnel—ranging from nurses and clinical officers to lab technicians and specialized doctors—while introducing incentive structures to retain staff in remote areas.

Governor Nathif’s government has further launched robust initiatives on immunization, reproductive health, nutrition, communicable disease control, and hygiene education. During drought and displacement crises, his administration coordinated mobile medical outreach programs and emergency response teams in collaboration with humanitarian partners.

A key hallmark of his tenure, the committee noted, has been integrating healthcare delivery with climate resilience, water access, and livelihoods programs, recognizing that health outcomes are deeply tied to broader social and environmental factors.

The organizers of the awards lauded Dr. Nathif’s governance style as “visionary, accountable, and rooted in equity, transparency, and sustainability,” noting that his efforts align with Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking after receiving the award, Dr. Nathif dedicated the honor to the people of Garissa, saying it was a testament to their resilience and his administration’s determination to ensure equitable healthcare access “regardless of geography or socio-economic status.”