Koiti Emmily

NextGen Scholar

Co-founder and Executive Director of South Sudanese Women in Medicine

Koiti Emmily is a medical practitioner as well as co-founder and Executive Director of South Sudanese Women in Medicine; a non-profit that mobilises and engages female South Sudanese medical, dental and pharmacy practitioners to save lives and address challenges unique to their career progression while influencing the delivery of healthcare in South Sudan.

Having acquired her medical degree in South Sudan during the immediate pre and post-independence periods of South Sudan, Koiti witnessed the political instability and civil war that marred this era and threatened peace as a key determinant of health. This compelled her to deliberately choose to pursue the attainment of better healthcare unconventionally by not only becoming a medical doctor but also being an intentional peacebuilder and rights activist alongside the pursuit of a medical career. This resulted in Koiti getting intimately involved in youth leadership, the women’s movement in South Sudan and ultimately representing the youth of South Sudan in the negotiation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Koiti is a signatory to the R-ARCSS, a member and co-founder of the South Sudan Women’s Coalition of Peace (SSWCP) and Sudan Youth Organisations’ Coalition (SSYOC). 

An alumnus of the Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) 2012, Women Lift Health’s 2023 Leadership journey, the United Kingdom Department of Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (DFCO) Africa Leadership Program; 2019 and fellow Skoll World Forum 2018, Koiti holds a bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery (MBBS) from University of Juba; South Sudan.

Koiti is also passionate about women’s sexual and reproductive health, and global healthcare leadership, enjoys discussions around current affairs, crocheting, reading, keeping tidy living spaces, travelling as well as educating women and youth related to their wellbeing and active citizenry.