When we think of global health leaders who advance policy and practice with compassion, Dr. Kokou (Nouwame) Alinon's name certainly comes to mind. As Regional Director of the Western Africa Regional Coordinating Centre (RCC) at Africa CDC, Dr. Alinon brings more than two decades of expertise to some of the continent's most challenging public health matters, and he is now interested in supporting autism awareness and inclusion.
Born in the Republic of Togo in West Africa, Dr. Alinon has spent over 21 years in healthcare and more than 15 years in public health. He holds master's degrees (DEA and DESS) in Health Psychology, a Ph.D. in Clinical and Health Psychology, and certifications in Public Health Emergency Management, Public Health Surveillance, Drug Abuse Control Strategies, Palliative Care, and Therapeutic Education of Patients. Before joining Africa CDC, he served Togo's Ministry of Health as the National Palliative Care Program Coordinator and led the Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance Division for over four years. He is also an associate professor at the University of Lomé and an author and co-author of numerous national and international publications and books.
Dr. Alinon is a Hubert H. Humphrey fellow and an alumnus of the U.S. CDC's Public Health Emergency Management Fellowship, two well-regarded training programs for global health professionals. His fellowship experience includes four programs across four countries: MASHAV (2016), UICC (2017), Humphrey Fellow (2018-2019), and CDC PHEM Fellow (2020), covering areas from emergency preparedness to disease surveillance and health policy communication. Dr. Alinon is also a trained mental health professional with hospital practice experience and expertise in drug abuse management and serious mental illness. This clinical background, alongside his public health work, gives him a broad understanding of the challenges facing individuals and families navigating neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, in resource-limited settings.
Supporting autism awareness and inclusion
We are grateful that Dr. Alinon is interested in supporting autism awareness and inclusion. He participated in our celebrity challenge, helping amplify the message to his network across West Africa. When the possibility of a research collaboration arose, he responded with genuine interest, quickly organizing a meeting with his team members and expressing eagerness to contribute to the proposed projects. Dr. Alinon's position at Africa CDC and his connections to national health ministries across the region offer a valuable opportunity to explore autism awareness, early identification, and inclusion within West African public health frameworks.
The autism community in West Africa is growing, and the need for research, early support, and inclusive policies is real. We are thankful to have Dr. Alinon as a supporter, and hope for collaborators in this vital work.