Experience

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  Africa Public Health Foundation

  • Nairobi County, Kenya

  • Interim Chief Executive Officer (Nov 2020-May2023)

    • Nov 2020 - May 2023
    • Nairobi County, Kenya

    APHF is a foundation created in November 2019 with the purpose of providing a partnerships’ platform and mobilize resources for the Africa CDC and public health initiatives in Africa.I directed the process of the establishment of the structures of the organization, namely the formation of the secretariat in charge of the operations of the foundation, and full registration in Nairobi-Kenya, the designated operations base of the foundation.Main achievements:-Conclusion of the registration of APHF in Kenya, thus ensuring its legal status and clearance to conduct operations.-Establishment of operation systems, and critical policies to guide the work of the Secretariat and of the Foundation at large.-APHF staff in place-Effective grant management in support of Africa CDC activities-Prompt response in the efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic -New grants secured in support of Africa CDC-Creation of a pooled mechanism for the channelling of funds, contributing to efficiencies in grant management, and facilitating the implementation of activities on the ground.-Sound management of the Foundation resources and management of grants; the Foundation annual accounts passed three consecutive audits by a reputable audit firm.-Ensured a structured and smooth transition to the CEO, who took office in May 2023.In providing the context, important to note that when the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, APHF was still constituting its governing council, and didn’t have any structure in place. What was achieved as highlighted above, was amidst the overwhelming effort of responding to the emergency.

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  UNICEF

  • Angola

  • UNICEF Representative in Angola

    • Jul 2013 - Oct 2016
    • Angola

    Main achievements:-Managed the Office and all the activities, which included a EUR 41M EU funded programme.-Completion of a new 5 year country programme approved by the Executive Board-Publishing of the situation analysis of women and children, the first since peace was achieved in 2002.-Led the organization in its contribution to the activities to update the country health and social indicators, with emphasis on the publication of the 2014 population and housing census results by the National Institute of Statistics.-Led the Team in the response to two major emergencies, the drought in the south of the country related to the El Niño effect, and the yellow fever epidemic, the worst in the last 40 years.-As part of the U N Country Team, active involvement in the UN processes to address the challenges faced by middle income countries in the region.

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  Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED)

  • Geneva, Switzerland

  • Senior Policy Advisor

    • Aug 2011 - Aug 2012
    • Geneva, Switzerland

    I was part of the senior mamangement team, and Chair of the Forum 2012.Forum 2012 was the 14th edition of the Global Forum for Health Research. This time the conference took a new format, not abstract based, with the topics developed around 3 key themes to address the “Beyond Aid...research and innovation as key drivers for health, equity and development”. It brought participants from a variety of constituencies to deliberate on how to build from evidence from research to devise innovative solutions for the health problems, which are sustainable and adapted to the local context. The sessions were more interactive, minimizing the resource to the classic way of formal presentations followed by discussion. The main idea was to depart from a problem and discuss alternatives to find solutions with evidence from research as major inputs. The conference was quite successful, and people welcomed the new format, and appreciated the interaction and networking. I was the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Forum, and led the Team that organized the event.

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  PMNCH

  • Geneva, Switzerland, hosted at WHO

  • Director

    • Feb 2006 - Mar 2009
    • Geneva, Switzerland, hosted at WHO

    -Founding Director of PMNCH (Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health) just formed in September 2005 with the aim of congregating the different players in the area of maternal and child health, including the newborn to ensure good coordination and harmonization of action.-A new momentum was created raising the profile of MNCH (Maternal, Newborn and Child Health)-Maternal, neonatal and child health matters raised to the highest political level eliciting commitment and action by Heads of State and Government.-Establishment of the notion of continuum of care from adolescence, motherhood, delivery, early days of life and childhood.-The work done by the Partnership paved the way, leading to the “Every Woman Every Child” movement spearheaded by the UN Secretary General.

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  The Government of Mozambique

  • Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique

  • Minister of Health

    • Jan 2000 - Jan 2005
    • Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique

    Main achievements:-Development of the health sector strategy-Establishment of effective mechanisms of coordination with partners supporting the sector, including the donors.-Integrated implementation of programmes.-Reinforcement of the capacity throughout the health network, with emphasis on the role of the district hospitals as the first referral centers in support of the peripheral units.-Introduction of HAART (treatment for HIV patients), ensuring its availability through the public sector.-Prevention of occurrence of epidemics during two major floods in 2000 and 2001.-Introduction of new vaccines.-Facilitation of research on major health problems.-Active participation in international work aiming at the creation of mechanisms for mobilization of resources, and support to countries to establish effective programmes addressing the main public health challenges.

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  Hospital Central da Beira

  • Beira, Sofala Province, Mozambique

  • Director

    • Feb 1988 - Jan 2000
    • Beira, Sofala Province, Mozambique

    Director of the Hospital, and Head of the OB/GYN DepartmentMain achievements:-Upgrade of the level of the 750-bed referral hospital to become a recognized teaching hospital.-Starting of the post graduate clinical training of medical doctors.-Development of the new master plan for the hospital-Participation in the committee that established the Catholic University, which has an agreement with the Beira Central Hospital as its teaching hospital.-Establishment of a coordinating mechanism for maternal health in the city of Beira, and the central region of the country.

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  Maternity Unit at the Maputo Central Hospital

  • Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique

  • Deputy Director

    • Feb 1982 - May 1985
    • Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique

    Main achievements:-Upgrade of the unit through the introduction of new equipment and techniques.-Introduction of the training of assistant medical officers in emergency obstetric care.-Contribution to the establishment of functional units for maternal care in the city of Maputo, thus improving the capacity of the peripheral maternities.-Establishment of a coordinating mechanism for obstetric care in the whole city of Maputo.-Introduction of maternal deaths audits, which contributed to the reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity.

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  Ministry of Health Mozambique-Provincial Directorate of Sofala

  • Caia, Sofala Province, Mozambique

  • District Health Director

    • Jul 1979 - Jul 1981
    • Caia, Sofala Province, Mozambique

    Managing the implementation of health programmes in the district, and at the same time the physician in charge of the clinical services, supervising the peripheral health centres distributed throughout the district.Main achievements:-Ensured the functionality of the health services with an increase in the uptake at the health units, drawing clients from the neighbouring districts.-Contributed to the consolidation of the immunization programme (expanded programme of immunization), then regarded by WHO and UNICEF as one of the examples of success in Africa.-Trained 2 batches of multipurpose village health workers (known as APEs), and organized one refresher seminar, and participated in the facilitation of a workshop for supervisors.-Led the district team in the control of a cholera epidemic in the region.-Supported one neighbouring district, where there was no doctor, with the clinical services managed by an assistant medical officer.

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  Xipamanine Health Centre-Maputo City Health Authority

  • Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique

  • Director

    • Jan 1979 - Jun 1979
    • Cidade de Maputo, Mozambique

    Clinical work at the health centre, one of the first level health units in the city. I was responsible for the implementation of most of the preventive programmes, and the clinical management of most of the common diseases; I supervised a team of assistant medical officers, nurses and midwives, and initiated the mapping of the health centre catchment area.