Dafina Gexha-Bunjaku is a Kosovar Albanian epidemiologist and current deputy minister of health of the Republic of Kosovo. After a successful career with the Kosovo Institute of Public Health, she joined the second Kurti government as deputy minister in March 2021. She acted as minister from 1 October to 16 November 2021.[1][2]
Dafina Gexha-Bunjaku | |
|---|---|
 Government meeting, 2021 | |
| Deputy Minister of Health | |
| Assumed office March 2021 | |
| President | Glauk Konjufca (acting) Vjosa Osmani |
| Prime Minister | Albin Kurti |
| Minister | Arben Vitia Herself (acting) Rifat Latifi |
| Minister of Health (acting) | |
| In office 1 October 2021 – 16 November 2021 | |
| President | Vjosa Osmani |
| Prime Minister | Albin Kurti |
| Preceded by | Arben Vitia |
| Succeeded by | Rifat Latifi |
| Assumed office 7 October 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Rifat Latifi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gjakova, Kosovo, Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) |
| Nationality | Kosovan Albanian |
| Political party | Vetëvendosje |
| Education | University of Pristina |
Education
editGexha-Bunjaku received her MD degree from the University of Pristina in 2004, after a hiatus during the Kosovo War and its aftermath. In 2011, she completed her residency with the National Institute of Public Health and obtained an MBA in health management from a joint program of the University of Pristina and the University of Vienna.[citation needed]
Career
editFrom 2000 to 2013, Gexha-Bunjaku worked with the World Health Organization office in Pristina, HLSP Institute, and other health-related programs and consultancies assisting the Ministry of Health. In January 2008, she joined the National Institute for Public Health as an epidemiologist – a position she held for over 13 years, until her current government position.[3]
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo, while part of the national public health institute, Gexha-Bunjaku helped draft prevention and control measures that received international praise[by whom?]. She also served as the Kosovo coordinator for the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control and co-designed the family medicine program supported by WHO and the UK Royal College of General Practitioners.[4]
Gexha-Bunjaku's research on HIV and communicable diseases has been published internationally.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Dafina Gexha-Bunjaku, ushtruese e detyrës së ministres së Shëndetësisë". Telegrafi. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Dafina Gexha-Bunjaku". Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kosovo. Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Dafina Gexha-Bunjaku". LinkedIn. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Profili i u.d.ministres së Shëndetësisë, Dafina Gexha-Bunjaku". Albinfo.ch. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
- ^ "Dafina Gexha Bunjaku". Research Gate. Retrieved 15 September 2022.