Leopold Zekeng
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Leopold Achengui Zekeng | |
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 Leopold Achengui Zekeng, 2025 | |
| Born | June 4, 1959 |
| Nationality | Cameroonian |
| Education | Cheick Anta Diop University, Dakar Senegal, Pasteur Institute of Lille, France |
| Occupation(s) | Microbiologist, Immunologist, Virologist, global health advocate, author |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | HIV research, public health leadership, Country Director of UNAIDS Nigeria |
| Spouse | Stela Zekeng |
| Children | 3 |
Leopold Achengui Zekeng (born in Dschang, Western Region, Cameroon on 4 June 1959) is a virologist, immunologist, microbiologist and global health advocate, currently serving as the Country Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) in Nigeria.[1] With over three decades of experience in HIV and AIDS research, policy development, and international program implementation, he has contributed significantly to public health efforts across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Early life and education
[edit]Zekeng was born and raised in Cameroon in a family environment that prioritized education and formal learning. His early education took place in a Catholic school system, which he credits with instilling discipline, structure, and a lifelong commitment to intellectual rigour. He developed a strong interest in science, particularly biology and chemistry, from a young age.
He later attended the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Senegal, where he encountered leading African scientists including microbiologist Professor Souleymane Mboup, co-discoverer of HIV-2, and infectious disease researcher Professor Mireille Prince-David. Their mentorship helped shape his focus on public health as a vehicle for societal impact.
Zekeng received a highly competitive government honors scholarship awarded by the Ministry of Education in Cameroon, based on academic merit, he received a scholarship from the Cameroonian Ministry of Education to pursue international studies. Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "2". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
Career
[edit]Zekeng worked with Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Health Organization before joining UNAIDS in the early 2000s. He held technical and leadership roles across Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.[2]
Zekeng began his UNAIDS career in 2005 as the agency's Country Coordinator in Sierra Leone, during a period marked by fragile post-war health systems. His work focused on integrating HIV and AIDS programming into national recovery and development frameworks, ensuring alignment with broader health reform.Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
He was subsequently appointed to lead UNAIDS in Liberia, where he played a significant role in building public health capacity in the aftermath of civil war. In Ghana, he worked with the West and Central Africa regional team, providing technical support to 23 countries and coordinating cross-border HIV strategy among stakeholders in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
In 2007, he assumed a strategic post in Dakar, Senegal, coordinating technical operations for UNAIDS across West and Central Africa. His portfolio included scaling up access to antiretroviral therapy, improving health information systems, and strengthening multi-country coordination frameworks. He also worked closely with global partners such as the World Bank and the Global Fund.Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
Between 2010 and 2015, Zekeng served as UNAIDS Country Director in Tanzania, overseeing major expansions in HIV prevention and treatment. He was instrumental in implementing the 90-90-90 global targets, promoting national ownership of data systems, and supporting the decentralization of HIV services to reach underserved populations.Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
In subsequent roles at UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva and Brazzaville, Zekeng contributed to high-level policy formation, strategic planning, and results-based management across Africa. His work emphasized institutional efficiency and country-driven programming aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
Scientific contributions
[edit]In 1994, Leopold Zekeng and his research team in Cameroon identified a highly divergent strain of HIV-1, later designated MVP-5180. This strain exhibited unique genetic and immunologic properties that rendered it undetectable by most standard HIV tests at the time. Sequencing of its genome revealed that MVP-5180 shared only 65% genetic similarity with typical HIV-1 strains and 56% with HIV-2, placing it evolutionarily closer to the divergence point between HIV-1 and HIV-2.
Serological testing in Cameroon revealed that approximately 8% of HIV-positive individuals were reactive to MVP-5180 antigens. Along with another isolate from Cameroon (ANT-70), this strain was later classified as part of HIV-1 Group O (for "Outlier"), a distinct and previously unrecognized group of the virus.[3]
This discovery highlighted the significant genetic diversity of HIV in West Central Africa and had global implications for diagnostics, vaccine development, and epidemiological surveillance. Zekeng’s work led to the redesign of diagnostic protocols to account for Group O and other non-M subtypes.
He later contributed to the development of research infrastructure in Cameroon, including the establishment of a high-containment virology lab recognized by the U.S. CDC under the PEPFAR program. This lab became a national reference center and a regional hub for virological surveillance, capacity building, and advanced diagnostics. Much of the contextual detail surrounding this discovery—including diagnostic limitations, patient-level challenges, and early fieldwork—is documented in his memoir. Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "6". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
HIV-1 Classification Table
[edit]| Group | Origin | Geographic Distribution | Notable Discoveries |
|---|---|---|---|
| M (Major) | Central Africa (chimpanzee origin) | Global pandemic strain | Responsible for >90% of global HIV cases |
| O (Outlier) | Cameroon (gorilla origin) | West Central Africa | Includes MVP-5180, discovered by Zekeng et al. |
| N (Non-M, Non-O) | Cameroon | Extremely rare | Fewer than 20 known cases |
| P | Cameroon | Extremely rare | Closely related to gorilla SIV |
Note: Group M is further divided into subtypes A–K, with CRF02_AG being predominant in West Africa. [4]
HIV and the Fast-Track Cities Initiative
[edit]In December 2014, during World AIDS Day in Paris, city mayors from around the globe endorsed the Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities, committing to end the AIDS epidemic in urban centres. They pledged to reach the 90-90-90 treatment targets by 2020 and eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination.Paris Declaration on Fast-Track Cities Ending the AIDS Epidemic. UNAIDS and IAPAC. 2014.
Under the joint leadership of Leopold Zekeng and technical lead Dr. Eric Verschueren, the West and Central Africa (WCA) region was the first to adapt the initiative’s framework. It launched regional strategies across 15 priority urban centres, focused on accelerated HIV and TB testing, treatment expansion, targeted data collection, and stakeholder mobilization via mayoral working groups.Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
City-level innovations
[edit]Some priority cities in WCA emerged as global models:
Lagos, Nigeria: Established a hub-and-spoke private health facility network to expand the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services. This collaboration leveraged high-volume private clinics to improve access to HIV testing and antenatal care.Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Rolled out a community-based ART distribution model through Points of Dispensation (PODIs) managed by trained peers, which improved adherence and reduced clinic congestion.Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
Yaoundé, Cameroon: Integrated HIV testing with a birth-registration campaign, mobilizing local authorities and civil society to identify 2,000 undocumented children—400 of whom were HIV-tested (with a 15% positivity rate)—and provided birth registration for 700 children.Zekeng, Leopold (2025). "8". The Journey Outlives The Traveller. Self-published. ISBN 978-978-695-070-9.
These programs reflected a localized approach, emphasizing evidence-based interventions and coordination among government, civil society, and health institutions in rapidly improving HIV outcomes in urban settings.
As of 2022, he serves as UNAIDS Country Director in Nigeria, leading the response in Africa’s most populous nation. In this role, he has worked with the Nigerian government, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), and civil society to promote equitable treatment access, reduce stigma, and improve maternal and child health outcomes.[5][6][2][7]
UNAIDS Country Leadership
[edit]Leopold Zekeng has served as the UNAIDS Country Director or held an equivalent leadership role in five countries:
| Country | Years | Position | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sierra Leone | 2005–2007 | Country Coordinator/Director | [8] |
| Liberia | 2005–2007 | Country Director | [8] |
| Ghana | 2007–2012 | Country Director | [9] |
| Tanzania | 2017–2022 | Country Director | [8] |
| Nigeria | 2022–present | Country Director | [10] |
Advocacy and public engagement
[edit]As a public speaker and advocate, Zekeng has participated in World AIDS Day events, the Global Partnership for Zero Discrimination, and national health forums.[11][12]
He has appeared in media interviews and op‑eds, addressing topics like gender equity in HIV prevention and leveraging community leadership.[13][14]
Recognition and impact
[edit]Under his leadership:
- Nigeria reported a 45% reduction in new HIV infections as of 2022.[15]
- UNAIDS acknowledged significant strides in treatment access, including 1.8 million people on therapy by mid‑2023.[6]
- He was commended for strengthening Nigeria’s HIV program through partnerships at a 2024 NACA–UNAIDS meeting.[7][16]
Selected publications and media appearances
[edit]- Zekeng, L. (2023). "Leveraging communities’ leadership to end AIDS in Nigeria." The Guardian Nigeria.[5]
- "UNAIDS advocates equal access to HIV treatments, services." The Guardian Nigeria (11 July 2023).[2]
- UNAIDS feature: "Nigeria’s Monkeypox response gains from HIV experience." (24 August 2022).[1]
- Punch: "1.6 million of 2 million Nigerians with HIV receiving treatment —NACA." (25 Nov 2024).[16]
- NewDawn Nigeria: "To end AIDS, protect everyone’s human rights." (1 Dec 2024).[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "UNAIDS Country Director in Nigeria shares how lessons from the AIDS response apply to the Monkeypox response | UNAIDS". www.unaids.org.
- ^ a b c Nigeria, Guardian (July 11, 2023). "UNAIDS advocates equal access to HIV treatments, services".
- ^ Zekeng, L; Gürtler, L; Kaptué, L (1994). "Genetic and antigenic analysis of a divergent HIV-1 isolate: MVP5180 from Cameroon". AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. 10 (10): 1239–1241. doi:10.1089/aid.1994.10.1239.
- ^ De Leys, R (2000). "A new HIV-1 group N from Cameroon". Nature Medicine. 6: 932–937. doi:10.1038/79639.
- ^ a b "Leveraging communities' leadership to end AIDS in Nigeria". November 27, 2023.
- ^ a b "UNAIDS acknowledges Nigeria's progress in HIV response". July 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "NACA Strengthens Partnership with UNAIDS to Advance National HIV/AIDS Response - NACA Nigeria". naca.gov.ng. March 26, 2024.
- ^ a b c "UN Nigeria Country Team – Dr. Leopold Zekeng". United Nations Nigeria. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "Ghana yet to adopt HIV-specific law – UNAIDS". Ghana Business News. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "UNAIDS supports Nigeria's response to monkeypox". UNAIDS. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ Agberebi, James (December 2, 2024). "UN applauds Nigeria's strides against HIV/AIDS".
- ^ Azeez, Kareem (March 4, 2025). "Nigeria joins global partnership to eliminate HIV, AIDS discrimination".
- ^ "Lessons from AIDS response applicable to Monkeypox — UNAIDS". August 25, 2022.
- ^ a b ""To end AIDS, protect everyone's human rights" - By Dr Leopold Zekeng (UNAIDS,". New Dawn Nigeria. December 1, 2024.
- ^ "New HIV infections down by 45%: UNAIDS".
- ^ a b https://punchng.com/1-6m-of-2m-nigerians-with-hiv-receiving-treatment-naca-dg/[permanent dead link]