A new chapter for genetic counselling in Africa
The African Genetic Counsellors Association (AGCA) was officially launched on 9 October 2025, marking a historic milestone for the growing field of genetic counselling on the African continent. The association brings together trained and trainee genetic counsellors, educators, clinicians, and allied professionals committed to advancing equitable access to genomic medicine across Africa.
AGCA was established to strengthen collaboration, professional development, and advocacy for the genetic counselling workforce in Africa. With the exponential rise in genomic research and clinical implementation across the continent, the association aims to ensure that Africa’s unique contexts, communities, and health systems are represented in global genetics and genomics discourse.
“The launch of AGCA represents more than just a professional body, it’s a collective vision for capacity building, mentorship, and sustainable integration of genetic counselling services in African healthcare,” – one of the founding members.”
Africa has seen progress in the training and recognition of genetic counsellors. Programs such as the MSc in Genetic Counselling at the University of Cape Town (UCT), the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), and the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC) in Ghana have paved the way for locally trained professionals addressing the continent’s genetic health challenges.
AGCA provides a formal network to connect these professionals across national and linguistic boundaries . fostering collaboration in education, research, clinical practice, and policy advocacy. The association also seeks to promote standards of practice aligned with regional frameworks (HPCSA, GCSA ,etc.) and international bodies such as the ABGC, EBMG, and HGSA.
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