Dr Catherine Mbema awarded MBE for services to public health
Dr Mbema was appointed Director of Public Health for Lewisham in 2020 and has worked tirelessly ever since to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents – especially when championing initiatives that both tackle health inequalities and support people to live healthier lives.
Reflecting on the award, she said:
“It was a wonderful surprise when I found out, and I am honoured to have been recognised in this way.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the many people who I have worked with and who have helped me in my career – each of you has made this possible.”
Born in London to parents of Ghanaian heritage, Catherine is passionate about making sure that our systems deliver for everyone to achieve the best health and wellbeing possible.
This determination led to the publication of the Birmingham and Lewisham African and Caribbean Health Inequalities Review (BLACHIR). A joint research project between Lewisham and Birmingham councils, the BLACHIR report highlights the many health inequalities experienced by Black African and Caribbean communities.
It also provides realistic recommendations that, when properly implemented, will lead to improved health outcomes for these groups.
Dr Mbema’s leadership was also pivotal during the Covid-19 pandemic. She led Lewisham’s response from the frontline, guiding her team through unprecedented challenges and keeping morale high during some of the most testing times in recent history.
Having studied medicine at Imperial College London, Dr Mbema decided to specialise in public health. She has worked for several local authorities in southeast London and has even taken her expertise further afield as part of a secondment with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) UK Overseas Territories (UKOT) team.
She has held several public health leadership roles, including Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Local Board Member for London and Association of Directors of Public Health London (ADPHL) vice-chair. She now co-leads the Public Health Tackling Racism and Inequality programme on behalf of ADPHL.
This MBE is a fitting tribute to Dr Mbema’s dedication, compassion and lasting impact on public health. Her achievements not only benefit Lewisham but set an inspiring example for communities everywhere.