Dr. Fatima Atiku Abubakar

MB BCh, BAO (NUI), DMT&H (London, UK)

President

A medical doctor with a desire and enthusiasm in professional development, Dr Fatima Abubakar has compassion for patients and seeks to lead in the introduction of new skills and advanced knowledge necessary for tropical medicine, to deliver high quality health services, through collaboration, to strengthen health systems for all.

As the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Adamawa State September 2015 - May 2019, Dr Abubakar significantly improved the health policy and plan formulations and legislations, and reviewed the regulatory functions and quality assurance standards for medical personnel. She actively improved monitoring and evaluation of the infrastructure and services for registration of both public and private health institutions operating in the State. Fatima also introduced the idea behind generation and utilization of evidence-based data and information system for health policy, strategy and plan development and implementation, which enhanced the health manpower development and planning for human and material resources. Driven by her penchant for collaboration, Dr Fatima strengthened the capacity of the Ministry to conduct health surveys and research, to update and enforce liaising with the Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders on policy formulation and implementation. And she vigorously pursued effective donor interaction and coordination.

In her professional career, Fatima was at various times a Medical Officer at Abuja Clinics, Maitama and Zankli Medical Centre, Abuja from Oct. 2008 - Oct. 2012 respectively, after she had served as Public Health Officer in Brighton & Hove Primary Care Trust, Brighton, East Sussex, UK in 2007. In 2006, she served her Clinical attachment in the care of the elderly at Watford General Hospital, Watford, UK. Other experiences Dr Fatima acquired in preparation for her dream to strengthen health systems, she worked variously at Surrey & Sussex Health Protect Unit, Western Sussex Primary Care Trust, Colchester, UK and Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University College of London Hospital for Tropical Diseases respectively.

Dr Fatima attended several local and international professional, administrative and management courses and served on the boards of many organizations and corporations.

Dr. Fatima is the Founder and President of Iya Patu Foundation, a Civil Society Organization with strong advocacy and social mobilization skills and deeply rooted in accountability and transparency to strengthen livelihoods, education and health systems everywhere.