Why would you like to be on the NCDA Presidnet-Elect?

I have served one term on the Global NCD Alliance board, therefore have solid experience of all aspects of the organisation. I have extensive experience from national/regional NCD alliances, having been a founder and leader of the Tanzania NCD Alliance (TANCDA) and East African NCD Alliance (EANCDA). I have served leadership roles at one of NCDA’s founding federations – the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) - as Chair of sub-Saharan Africa Region 2000-2006 and as a Vice-President (Global) 2007-2012. Therefore, I have worked with NCDA in many different ways since its beginning and believe my decades of experience would be of great value.

The sheer scale of NCDs and impact these diseases are having on communities and health and development is a clear motivation for me to work with NCDA. WHO’s data shows that compared with advances against communicable diseases, progress in preventing and controlling premature death from NCDs has been inadequate. We need urgent action globally, and particularly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) where these diseases disproportionately impact. For this reason, I believe having leadership from LMICs would be of great value to NCDA.

I have dedicated my whole career to the global diabetes/NCD response, and believe NCDA and its strong membership is an important and unique leading force. In order to move the global NCD agenda forward, we need to work together, build partnerships and be global advocates for people living with NCDs. I feel I am the right candidate for NCDA President‑Elect and it would be an absolute honour to serve on behalf of NCDA’s members.

What makes you a good candidate for the NCDA Presidnet-Elect?

Since 2012, I have been CEO of Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital in Dar es Salaam and have been a member of various national/international Boards and committees. My engagement in these Boards demonstrates my leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, knowledge of governance and finance, and above all confidentiality and neutrality which are essential for chairing a Board and particularly an alliance.

As a physician, researcher, advocate, CEO, and founder of alliances; having engaged at all levels of NCDA as a member and board member; and having deep experience of cross-sectoral partnerships positions me well for this role.

I have decades of experience and a track record across NCDA’s strategic impact goals and roles. I have led advocacy at the regional level on issues such as prevention, UHC, financing and integration, and have established strong relations with East Africa Community, Africa Union, PEPFAR and The Global Fund. I strongly believe in the power of integrating NCDs within communicable diseases and other global health priorities. As IDF Africa Chair and founder/leader of East Africa NCD Alliance, a major focus has been building capacity of CSOs, alliances and people living with NCDs. In my view, community engagement and coalition building is a must for the NCD response.

I would be stepping up as President-Elect and President during a critical moment for NCDA and NCDs, with the 2025 UNHLM on NCDs, the SDGs review, and expiry of NCDA’s current Strategy. Having an experienced pair of hands to steer and provide leadership and vision, and listen to the needs and priorities of our membership from all regions will be essential during this period. I am deeply committed, motivated, and would be humbled to serve.

Biography

Kaushik is a Member of the Board of World Diabetes Foundation and Honorable General Secretary of Tanzania Diabetes Association (TDA) and Tanzania NCD Alliance (TANCDA), President Elect for the East African NCD Alliance (EANCDA), and member of the Board of the Global NCD Alliance.

At present, in addition to being the CEO & Consultant Physician at Shree Hindu Mandal Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Kaushik is working on several programs including those with children who have Type 1 diabetes; cardiovascular complications of antiretroviral drugs in HIV/AIDS and Diabetes/TB interaction. Together with National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) Muhimbili in Tanzania and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), Kaushik is working on communicable disease and NCD Integration models (MOCCA Study) and will be overseeing metformin intervention in HIV patients with IGT (META Trial). He is also part of the Tanzania Diabetes Association team implementing the National NCD program at primary care encompassing NCD prevention & promotion, curative services in primary care, training, policy & legislations, monitoring & evaluation and operational research.