Liberia has achieved a significant milestone on the continental medical regulatory stage following the election of Dr. Deddeh E. P. Supuwood, one of the country’s leading female medical professionals and healthcare advocates, to the Management Committee of the Association of Medical Councils of Africa (AMCOA).
Dr. Supuwood, a Statutory Council Member of the Liberia Medical and Dental Council (LMDC) and President of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association (LMDA), was elected on Thursday, August 27, in Accra, Ghana, at the conclusion of the 28th AMCOA Conference.
Her election places Liberia among a select group of African countries represented in the leadership of the continent’s medical regulatory body and gives the country a stronger platform to participate in discussions shaping medical regulation and professional standards across Africa.
A Strong Vote of Confidence
Dr. Supuwood emerged victorious after receiving 8 of the 19 votes cast among four candidates representing different African countries. Notably, she was the only female candidate in the election.
Her successful election is not only a personal achievement but also a significant recognition of Liberia’s growing contribution to the advancement of healthcare regulation and professional leadership.
As a member of the AMCOA Management Committee, Dr. Supuwood will serve a two-year tenure, during which she is expected to contribute to continental discussions on medical regulation, professional compliance, healthcare governance, patient safety, policy development, and health systems strengthening.
For Liberia, the appointment provides an important opportunity to bring national experiences and regulatory priorities to a continental platform while also learning from regulatory practices and innovations across other African countries.
A Historic First for Liberia
Dr. Supuwood’s election carries particular significance because it represents what is understood to be the first time a Liberian has been democratically elected to serve on the Management Committee of AMCOA since the Association’s establishment.
She joins fellow Management Committee members from countries including Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Malawi, and Rwanda, giving Liberia representation within an important continental network of medical regulatory authorities.
Her election also represents an important moment for women’s leadership in African healthcare regulation. As the only woman among the five executives serving on the Management Committee, Dr. Supuwood’s presence adds a valuable gender perspective to continental conversations on medical governance and professional regulation.
Who Is Dr. Deddeh E. P. Supuwood?
Dr. Deddeh E. P. Supuwood is a Liberian Medical Oncologist and healthcare leader whose work spans medical oncology, cancer advocacy, professional leadership, and health systems strengthening.
She currently serves as President of the Liberia Medical and Dental Association and as Acting Head of the Oncology Unit at John F. Kennedy Medical Center, Liberia’s national referral hospital.
She also serves as a board member of the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and the National Pharmacy Board.
Following the completion of her specialist training in Medical Oncology and Malignant Hematology at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt, Dr. Supuwood returned to Liberia and established the country’s first official post-war oncology unit.
Her work has contributed to expanding access to chemotherapy and multidisciplinary cancer care in Liberia. Beyond clinical practice, she has played an important role in mentoring emerging healthcare professionals and advocating for improved cancer services and healthcare systems.
Bringing Liberia’s Priorities to the Continental Table
Dr. Supuwood’s new role comes at a time when medical regulatory systems across Africa are facing increasingly complex challenges, including professional standards, patient safety, health workforce development, ethical practice, licensing and compliance, and the need to strengthen healthcare institutions.
Her participation on the AMCOA Management Committee is therefore an opportunity for Liberia to elevate its experiences and priorities within continental discussions.
During her two-year tenure, she will have an opportunity to advocate for issues affecting Liberia’s healthcare sector while contributing to the development of approaches that can strengthen medical regulation and improve the quality of healthcare delivery.
Her position also creates opportunities for greater collaboration between Liberia and other African countries through knowledge exchange, regulatory cooperation, professional development, and shared approaches to strengthening healthcare systems.
A Milestone for Women in Medical Leadership
Beyond the institutional significance of her election, Dr. Supuwood’s achievement carries a broader message about the role of women in healthcare leadership.
Her emergence as the only female candidate in the election, and subsequently the only woman among the five executives serving on the Management Committee, demonstrates the growing importance of women’s participation in decision-making spaces within Africa’s health sector.
For young female healthcare professionals in Liberia and across the continent, her achievement provides an example of how clinical expertise, professional leadership, advocacy, and public service can translate into influence at the continental level.
LMDC Congratulates Dr. Supuwood
The Liberia Medical and Dental Council has congratulated Dr. Deddeh E. P. Supuwood on her election, describing the achievement as an important milestone for Liberia.
The Council expressed confidence that her participation in the AMCOA Management Committee will contribute to advancing medical regulation, professional standards, and quality healthcare delivery both in Liberia and across Africa.
Dr. Supuwood’s election is ultimately more than an individual accomplishment. It represents a new opportunity for Liberia to strengthen its voice in continental healthcare governance and contribute to shaping the future of medical regulation in Africa.
As she begins her two-year tenure, expectations will be high that she will use the platform to advance professional excellence, strengthen regulatory systems, promote patient safety, and ensure that Liberia’s healthcare priorities remain part of the broader African health agenda.
For Liberia’s medical profession, it is a moment of pride. For women in healthcare leadership, it is a moment of inspiration. And for the country’s healthcare system, it is an opportunity to ensure that Liberia’s voice is heard more strongly at the continental level.
