Accra , Oct 18 – The Managing health editor at GhanaHealthNest.com, Kelvin Odonkor also known on socials as “Kobby Blay”, has been selected to participate in this years prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) with focus on Global Health Challenges. He was nominated for his dedication, passion and outstanding commitment to global health communication.
Mr Odonkor has through his work contributed actively to shaping the health discourse in Ghana and beyond over a decade now. He said as a nurse, he witnessed the vital role that effective communication plays in healthcare. Over the years,he has excelled as a health communication officer in different roles to support individuals groups and organization’s in dealing with public health crises with his recent being for a COVID-19 project with the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG).
“My work has revolved around curbing health disinformation, a critical issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, through GhanaHealthNest.com, I have disseminated accurate and timely information, to help curb misinformation and save lives,” he said. The Managing Editor said the IVLP program will provide him with a unique opportunity to collaborate with health professionals and communicators from around the world, exchange insights, and further enhance his skills. “This is not just an achievement for me but also a proud moment for Ghana and the global health community, we can only anticipate the positive impact I will continue to make as I embark on this exciting journey,” he said.
The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields experience the US firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. Professional meetings reflect the participants’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States. Each year nearly 5,000 International Visitors go to the U.S. on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). More than 200,000 International Visitors have engaged with Americans through the IVLP, including more than 500 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government.
Over the years hundreds of former participants under the International Visitor program have risen to important positions in their countries. In Ghana ,Former President J.A. Kufuor, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor, numerous Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, Diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Judges, Private Legal Practitioners and senior journalists such as Manasseh Azure Own, Bernard Avle are former grantees. There is no application for IVLP Participants are nominated and selected annually by the staff at U.S. Embassies around the world.
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Linda O. Aryeetey/Ghanahealthnest.com
