Dr. Khadija Mbarak Awadh is a senior public health pharmacist and health systems leader with nearly 18 years of experience in Kenya’s public sector. She currently heads the Division of Essential Health Products and Technologies in Mombasa County, leading reforms in supply chain governance, commodity security, and policy implementation to improve access to essential medicines. Her career reflects steady progression from pharmacist intern across hospital, community, and industrial settings, to senior pharmacist, pharmacist-in-charge at Tudor District Hospital, Sub-County Pharmacist overseeing half of Mombasa County, and Sub-County Medical Officer of Health for Mvita from 2017 to 2023.
Dr. Awadh’s expertise spans pharmaceutical care, hospital leadership, sub-county health management, and county-level strategic planning.
She holds a PhD in Public Health, a Master’s in Health Systems Management, and a BSc in Pharmacy. Her honors include the Pwani Women in Health Award (2024), CDC IMPACT Distinguished Fellowship (2018), and recognition as Best Pharmacist in the Coast Region, Kenya (2013).
She believes women’s leadership challenges structural inequities and amplifies voices historically excluded from decision-making, championing equity, community engagement, and policies that prioritize wellbeing for all.
Fun fact: Dr. Awadh is known for her warm, people-centered leadership style and her gift for finding humor in even the most demanding professional moments.