Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng, widely known as “Dr. T”, is a South African physician and global advocate reshaping how the world talks about health—especially for African women. As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, she is the first African woman to hold this powerful position, using it to speak boldly about the intersections of health, gender, and human rights.
Her mission is clear: to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender, background, or geography, has access to quality health care. But Dr. T doesn’t just focus on hospitals and medicine—she centers people’s lived experiences. From advocating for sexual and reproductive health rights to fighting for access to contraception, safe abortion, and HIV services, she continues to amplify the voices of those often left unheard in global health conversations.
Dr. Mofokeng’s legacy is also deeply rooted in education. She has authored the bestselling book Dr. T: A Guide to Sexual Health and Pleasure, breaking taboos and offering science-based, inclusive information to African readers and beyond. Her work brings both compassion and clarity to sensitive topics, helping people take control of their health and bodies without shame or fear.
In her UN role, she holds governments accountable, challenges harmful laws, and pushes for policies that protect the rights of marginalized communities. Whether she’s addressing world leaders or hosting health workshops in local townships, her message remains the same: health is a human right—not a privilege.
Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng is not only making history—she’s rewriting the global standard for what equitable, people-centered health care should look like. Through her voice, her practice, and her advocacy, she’s proving that real change begins when everyone is seen, heard, and cared for.
