Wiki Health Africa Launches 22 Health Fellows to Strengthen Accurate Health Information Across the Continent

Wiki Health Africa has inaugurated 22 health fellows from across Africa under its African Health Editors Fellowship Cohort 2025/2026, a landmark initiative aimed at improving access to credible health information and combating misinformation on the continent.

The virtual inauguration, held via Zoom on 5 February 2026, brought together health professionals and media practitioners from Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Cameroon, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Benin. The fellowship is led by Dr. Tesleemah Abdulkareem, who emphasised its role in uniting African health professionals to enhance the quality of health content on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia platforms.

The newly inaugurated fellows include a diverse mix of pharmacists, doctors, nurses, radiographers, optometrists, health educators, journalists, translators, and software developers. Among them are Theresa Ekemini Donatus, a media-health correspondent from Nigeria; Temiyemi Sherif Alao, pharmacist; Dr. Peculiar Osayemere Idiagbonya, optometrist; Dr. Abubakar Bakiru Wabi, medical doctor; and Kamal Alao Ashimiyu, radiographer—all from Nigeria.

Other participants hail from across Africa, including Seimawu Sugri Seidu and Maureen LD Owusu-Addae (Ghana), Bukeka Mkhosi (South Africa), Fabrice Kabamba Ngalamulume (DRC), Dr. Mugenyi Nathan (Uganda), and Fifamè Laurence Esther Adjaho ssou (Benin).

The fellowship employs the Wikimedia Core Curriculum, a globally recognised framework developed by the Wikimedia Foundation, equipping participants with skills to contribute responsibly to open-access health content. Training included facilitator-led virtual onboarding sessions and interactive workshops covering Wikipedia standards, neutral point of view, sourcing, article creation, translation, copyright, and community engagement.

Dr. Abdulkareem stressed the importance of the live onboarding sessions for first-time editors navigating the collaborative Wikipedia environment. “These sessions ensured participants understood Wikipedia’s policies and the critical need for accuracy and balance in health information,” she said.

The programme also emphasised ethical guidelines, safety policies, and inclusive participation, with a community session featuring Dr. James Heilman, Chairman of WikiProject Medicine, and Chinti Chathurika, Translation Coordinator. Regional leaders discussed collaboration, dispute resolution, and professional engagement within the Wikimedia community.

Fellows, including Theresa Ekemini Donatus, praised the programme for bridging professional health reporting with accessible digital health information. Participants completed self-paced modules alongside guided instruction, earning certificates upon completion. Local coordinators were appointed to oversee upcoming health projects in their respective countries.

“By equipping health editors and journalists with Wikimedia skills, we strengthen public understanding of health issues and build trust in open knowledge platforms,” Dr. Abdulkareem said. Graduates are expected to continue contributing, mentoring new editors, and enhancing health content.