Soludo Appoints US-Based Animalu, SA On HIV Diaspora Coordination
Gov. Chukwuma Soludo has appointed Prof. Chinelo Animalu, a United States-based infectious disease specialist, as his Special Assistant on State HIV Diaspora Coordination and Development.
Soludo, who made the appointment on Saturday said it pinpointed the strategic focus of his administration on leveraging global partnerships to elevate local healthcare delivery.
He said Animalu would head initiatives aimed at mobilising international resources and technical expertise.
“She will lead the coordination of diaspora partnerships and develop sustainable, innovative strategies to strengthen the state’s ongoing HIV response,” he said.
Animalu brings a wealth of clinical, academic, and leadership experience to the administration.
She currently serves as an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and holds senior medical leadership positions within the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system.
She is an accomplished academic and researcher with Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Tulane University.
She is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (FIDSA).
She is a recipient of the 2025 Healthcare Heroes Award for Community Outreach, alongside numerous awards for volunteerism and community service.
