Dr. Kofi Akakpo

Dr. Kofi Akakpo is a general practitioner at the Centre National Hospitalier et Universitaire Hubert Maga (CNHU-HKM), Benin's foremost public teaching hospital in Cotonou. Over a career of more than 16 years, Dr. Akakpo has been a central figure in the hospital's outpatient primary care services, managing the daily health needs of Cotonou's urban population as well as patients referred from rural health centres across southern Benin.

His practice encompasses the full breadth of general medicine in a West African context, balancing the management of endemic infectious diseases — malaria, typhoid, and respiratory infections remain dominant presentations — with a growing caseload of non-communicable diseases including hypertension, diabetes, and obesity-related conditions. Dr. Akakpo takes a holistic, patient-centred approach, and is known for his accessible communication style in both French and Fon, allowing him to effectively reach patients from across Benin's diverse linguistic communities.

Dr. Akakpo also serves as a clinical supervisor for medical students from the Université d'Abomey-Calavi's Faculty of Health Sciences, who rotate through CNHU-HKM as part of their undergraduate training. He is committed to strengthening primary care capacity in Benin, which remains the foundation of the country's healthcare pyramid.

Dr. Akakpo completed his medical studies at the Faculté des Sciences de la Santé of the Université d'Abomey-Calavi in Cotonou, earning his Doctorat en Médecine. He completed clinical rotations across the departments of CNHU Hubert Maga and undertook a postgraduate Diplôme d'Études Spécialisées in General Medicine. He has participated in continuing medical education programmes organised by the WHO African Regional Office and the Conseil National de l'Ordre des Médecins du Bénin, focusing on malaria case management, diabetes care, and reproductive health.

Dr. Akakpo provides comprehensive primary care consultations addressing both acute and chronic conditions. He is experienced in diagnosing and treating malaria, including complicated cases requiring hospital referral, as well as typhoid fever, bacterial and viral respiratory infections, and gastroenteritis. He manages chronic conditions including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and asthma, providing long-term follow-up and medication management. Procedurally, he performs wound assessment and care, minor suturing, abscess drainage, and vaccination. He also conducts antenatal primary care reviews and provides routine child health checks within the hospital's outpatient department.

Dr. Akakpo's primary contribution is his sustained clinical service at CNHU Hubert Maga, one of Benin's highest-volume public hospitals. His engagement with medical education — supervising undergraduate students and participating in CNHU-HKM's clinical teaching programme — represents a significant investment in the future of Beninese medicine. He has contributed to internal departmental audits on malaria treatment adherence and has participated in WHO-coordinated disease surveillance activities.

Dr. Akakpo consults fluently in French and in Fon, the most widely spoken indigenous language in southern Benin. He is accessible to patients from the Beninese diaspora in France, Belgium, and North America who seek medical attention during visits to Cotonou. CNHU Hubert Maga accepts patients from across the ECOWAS region, and Dr. Akakpo is familiar with the health challenges common to patients from neighbouring Nigeria, Togo, and Niger. Consultations are conducted in-person, and the hospital's outpatient department has extended hours to accommodate working patients.

Dr. Akakpo has been recognised by CNHU Hubert Maga for his long-standing commitment to clinical teaching and mentorship of medical students. He is an active member of the Conseil National de l'Ordre des Médecins du Bénin and has been commended for his role in health promotion campaigns addressing malaria prevention in Cotonou's peri-urban communities.