Honouring a great public health hero in Africa: Dr Frederick Kwadzo Wurapa (September 1934 – June 2025)
- 1Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (GFELTP), Accra, Ghana
- 2Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme (GFELTP), Accra, Ghana; African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Kampala, Uganda
- 3African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Kampala, Uganda
Abstract
In June 2025, the public health fraternity in Africa lost a pillar, Dr. Frederick Kwadzo Wurapa. This write-up summarises the life and contributions of Dr. Wurapa. After being trained in the United States of America, Dr. Wurapa made a choice to serve the African continent by working in several African countries to build disease control structures which improved the health systems. He dedicated his entire career to building public health in Africa. Even after retirement, he continued to serve his country, Ghana and the African continent. Serving as the second Director (now Dean) of the University of Ghana School of Public Health, he played an instrumental role in the establishment of African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the Ghana Field Epidemiology Training Programme (GFELTP). Even in his older age, he continued to serve as an advisory board member for both organisations till his demise. Lessons from this hero’s life include the need for the younger generation to commit to serving their country and mentoring others to continue the vision of the forebears.
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BibTeX
@article{afari2026honouring,
title = {{Honouring a great public health hero in Africa: Dr Frederick Kwadzo Wurapa (September 1934 – June 2025)}},
author = {Edwin Andrews Afari and Ernest Kenu and Delia Akosua Bandoh and Samuel Sackey and Donne Kofi Ameme and Simon Antara},
journal = {Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.37432/jieph-d-26-00096},
url = {https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-d-26-00096},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Honouring a great public health hero in Africa: Dr Frederick Kwadzo Wurapa (September 1934 – June 2025)
AU - Edwin Andrews Afari
AU - Ernest Kenu
AU - Delia Akosua Bandoh
AU - Samuel Sackey
AU - Donne Kofi Ameme
AU - Simon Antara
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health
DO - 10.37432/jieph-d-26-00096
UR - https://doi.org/10.37432/jieph-d-26-00096
AB - In June 2025, the public health fraternity in Africa lost a pillar, Dr. Frederick Kwadzo Wurapa. This write-up summarises the life and contributions of Dr. Wurapa. After being trained in the United States of America, Dr. Wurapa made a choice to serve the African continent by working in several African countries to build disease control structures which improved the health systems. He dedicated his entire career to building public health in Africa. Even after retirement, he continued to serve his country, Ghana and the African continent. Serving as the second Director (now Dean) of the University of Ghana School of Public Health, he played an instrumental role in the establishment of African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the Ghana Field Epidemiology Training Programme (GFELTP). Even in his older age, he continued to serve as an advisory board member for both organisations till his demise. Lessons from this hero’s life include the need for the younger generation to commit to serving their country and mentoring others to continue the vision of the forebears.
SN - 2664-2824
ER -