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Critical Reflection On Public Health

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CRITICAL REFLECTION ON PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has included leadership as one of the building blocks of an effective health system. Good governance and strong leadership are the key elements of a successful health program. Even in the political arena, effective and influential leaders have been the ones with a clear vision, know their weaknesses and strengths, and are able to influence others to follow them. The greatest lesson that I have taken from the course is that everyone is a leader, regardless of the number of the people following or the situation they are in. In addition, leaders are made, and none is born a leader.
Prior to my enrolment in the course, I had been working in the Ministry of Health in Malawi as a District Health Officer for 8 years, in 3 different districts. My role was to provide strategic leadership and coordination of the district health care delivery. I was responsible to look after over 3000 members of staff, being a senior member of the District Executive Committee and providing direction to all the stakeholders supporting the health sector in the district. I was also responsible for resource mobilization, planning and budgeting for the health services in the district. It was difficult to isolate being a manager and a leader until I attended this course. I have realised how team work, flexibility and adaptability, courage as well as emotional intelligence are critical in a position of the

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