Meet the new Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Health Network – Gladson Vaghela
March 22The Commonwealth Youth Health Network (CYHN), one of the world’s foremost youth-led health platforms, has entered a new chapter of leadership. The new Chair of the CYHN will be Dr. Gladson Vaghela, a physician, researcher and dynamic youth with a bold vision to redefine how young people shape and lead the future of global health. In this exclusive interview, we introduce the new Chair and explore the journey, purpose, and aspirations that define their leadership.
Q: Congratulations on becoming the new Chair of CYHN. How do you see this moment in your journey?
This moment is both humbling and historic. CYHN represents the collective voice of young people across 56 commonwealth nations, from the Caribbean to the Pacific, from Africa to Asia. To serve as Chair is not merely an appointment rather it is a call to action. It is a profound responsibility to harness the energy, innovation, and determination of young people to reshape global health. For me, this is a commitment to make the Commonwealth a beacon for youth leadership in health and well-being to truly achieve the SDG 3.
Q: Tell us about your path into youth health advocacy. What brought you here?
My path has always been rooted in the belief that health is justice. From my experience working in clinical setup to serving in youth-led organisations in the past, to leading research and advocacy on health inequities, I have seen how young people are too often excluded from decisions that shape their future. I chose to challenge that. Through evidence, advocacy, and grassroots leadership, I am committed to ensuring that young people, especially those from underrepresented communities are not merely consulted but positioned at the very centre of global health dialogue.
Q: What will be your vision for CYHN over the next two years?
My vision is for CYHN to be fearless and transformative. I want to see the network:
- Redefine youth leadership in health – moving beyond tokenism to genuine power-sharing with policymakers and global institutions.
- Champion urgent health priorities – tackling mental health, climate-driven health challenges, reproductive justice, and non-communicable diseases with innovation and urgency.
- Forge bold partnerships – uniting governments, civil society, and international bodies around the idea that young people are not beneficiaries of health policy, but co-architects of healthier societies.
Q: What sets CYHN apart on the world stage?
CYHN is iconic because it is unapologetically youth-led while carrying the legitimacy of The Commonwealth. We are both grassroots and global. We can bring the testimony of a young health worker in a rural village directly to the key stakeholders and policymakers shaping decisions at the global level. That dual power, authentic lived experience and institutional recognition makes CYHN unlike any other network.
Q: What message do you want to share with the 1.5 billion young people across the Commonwealth?
My message is simple: This is your time. Your voice, your lived experiences, and your ideas are not peripheral, they are essential. Together, we are not the future of health leadership; we are the present. I call on every young person to claim their space, to challenge inequity, and to co-create solutions. The Commonwealth is strongest when its youth rise as leaders; CYHN can serve as a powerful platform where we spotlight the pressing health issues facing young people worldwide.
Closing Note
With Dr. Gladson Vaghela stepping in as Chair, CYHN enters a bold new era. This leadership is not just about representation, it is about revolutionising youth health advocacy across continents. The years ahead will mark a defining chapter for the Commonwealth– one where young people no longer lead from the margins, but from the very heart of the global health agenda.
