PATH announces new leader for South Africa program

PATH has named Dr. Craig Friderichs its new country director for South Africa. Dr. Friderichs is based at PATH's Johannesburg office.

"Dr. Friderichs has a terrific background that spans health, technology, and business," said Kathy Cahill, PATH's vice president for International Development. "This includes extensive experience using mobile technologies to meet critical health needs in South Africa and around the world. I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Friderichs to PATH."

In his new role, Dr. Friderichs is accountable for the quality and effectiveness of PATH's South Africa program, overseeing project planning, budget monitoring, donor reporting, and human resource management. He serves as PATH's primary point of contact for partners and other stakeholders in South Africa.

Dr. Friderichs comes to PATH from Brandtone, a worldwide leader in the use of mobile technologies to meet commercial and social needs. As the global director of health, based in Cape Town, South Africa, he developed the company's global health strategy, technologies, and partnerships. Most recently, he led the launch of mobile services to help increase sales of the injectable contraceptive Sayana® Press across Nigeria.

Previously, Dr. Friderichs was the head of global health for London-based GSMA, where he successfully launched mobile health services across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. He represented the private sector in the World Health Organization's Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; helped to craft the Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy 2.0; and led efforts to use mobile technology to help manage the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. While with Cape BioTech Trust in Cape Town, South Africa, he sourced and developed medical devices and pharmaceutical investment opportunities for public-sector clients.

Dr. Friderichs holds a bachelor of medicine/bachelor of surgery degree from Stellenbosch University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Since 2005, PATH has partnered with government officials, health care providers, private firms, and others to improve health and save lives in South Africa. Our projects in South Africa focus on improving maternal health, enhancing infant and young child health, strengthening health systems, and preventing and treating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

PATH and the South African Medical Research Council have recently partnered to establish the Global Health Innovation Accelerator (GHIA), which is advancing technologies with the greatest potential for improving health, especially among the most vulnerable women and children. The GHIA is building the capacity of technology developers, manufacturers, distributors, and delivery platforms in South Africa by enabling partnerships that bring together the expertise, funding, and networks required for innovation, scale, and impact.

Posted December 14, 2016.