Colombia
Dr. María Fernanda Escobar Vidarte
María Fernanda Escobar Vidarte is a gynecologist and obstetrician; a specialist in critical medicine and intensive care from the Universidad del Valle, Colombia; a fellow observer from the University of Pittsburgh, United States; and holds a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology from the Universidad de la Frontera, Chile, and another in social innovation from the ICESI University, Cali. Currently, she is the chief of the Global Health Equity Unit and Hospital Padrino’s strategy of the Fundación Valle del Lili and the Colombia strategy.
Dr. Jezid Miranda Quintero
Dr. Miranda a gynecologist with a subspecialty in fetal medicine. He earned his Ph.D. Magna Cum Laude in Fetal Medicine and Fetal Therapy from a consortium of three European universities: Barcelona, Lund, and Leuven. Currently, he serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Cartagena.
Egypt
Dr. Mohamed Fathalla
Associate Professor, Women’s Health at Assiut University Women’s Health Center, Assiut, Egypt
Dr. Mohamed Fathalla is the co-author of “A Practical Guide for Health Researchers” and “Sexual and reproductive health for all: a call for action”. He has used the NASG extensively in the Egypt trial and is experienced in training, monitoring, and evaluation of the NASG during surgery and transports.
Dr. Mohammed Mourad
Head of the Emergency Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, El-Galaa Maternity Teaching Hospital in Cairo
Dr. Mohammed Mourad is a skilled physician and teacher and has extensive hospital management experience. He has worked as a consultant and trainer for the Healthy Mother/Healthy Child Project. Dr. Mourad has used the NASG in a wide range of cases and has trained many junior physicians in its use.
Ghana
Dr. Ganyaglo Gabriel
Dr. Gabriel is a Consultant Urogynaecologist, fistula surgeon, and Obstetrician at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. His research focuses on the epidemiology and quality of life of pelvic floor disorders in rural communities, coping strategies for obstetric fistula patients, and using the menstrual cup to manage urine leakage. He provides pro bono surgical care for women with pelvic organ prolapse and obstetric fistula in remote areas and is known for mentoring younger colleagues during outreach programs in underserved regions.
Guinea
Dr. Alexandre Delamou
Dr. Alexandre is an experienced Researcher and Program Manager with 13 years of experience in public health in Guinea and across Africa (Sierra Leone, Niger, DR Congo). He has authored more than 40 peer-reviewed papers and is skilled in clinical research, epidemiology, data analysis, program evaluation, and medical writing. He serves as an Assistant Professor in Public Health with a strong academic background, holding a state doctorate in medicine (Guinea), a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities (France), an MPH in Reproductive Health (ITM Antwerp), a Master’s in Clinical Trials (LSHTM), and a PhD in Public Health Sciences.
Kenya
Julius Mbeya
Julius Mbeya serves as Lwala Community Alliance's Co-CEO, where he is responsible for driving the mission of the organization and overseeing operations. Julius grew up in a village that also suffered from the dual burden of HIV and maternal mortality, and is compelled to work at Lwala due to its success at drastically improving health outcomes and deep commitment to community leadership because when communities lead, change is lasting. Prior to joining the team, he worked with MS ActionAid Denmark, UNDP Kenya, and with the World Bank-funded Kenya Agricultural Productivity Project. He has an MA in Political Science & Public Administration from the University of Nairobi, a post-graduate diploma in Healthcare Management from the Kenya Institute of Management, and a post-graduate diploma in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution from the University of Fribourg – Switzerland. “At Lwala, you become your brother’s keeper and your sister’s keeper, even if you do not know the people individually,” he says. “Lwala’s commitment to the community is not in passing. There is a sense of debt and implication in the communities we serve.”
Ash Rogers
Ash Rogers serves as Lwala Community Alliance's Co-CEO, and she directs vision, research, and external affairs. As a mother, Ash is particularly passionate about advancing the rights of all women to access dignified reproductive and maternal health care. Ash comes to Lwala from Segal Family Foundation, where she was the Director of Operations overseeing a $12m grant portfolios. She is a Global Health Corps alum and has worked with organisations including Komo Learning Centres, HELP International, and the U.S. Department of State. She serves on the boards of the Community Health Impact Coalition and Komo Learning Centres. She holds an MPA from the University of Washington and a BA in Political Science from Brigham Young University. She says “I’m humbled by the opportunity to ally with communities who have declared that it is intolerable for someone to die because of where they are born.”
Dr. Hilary Mabeya
Dr. Hillary Mabeya is the founder and lead surgeon at Gynocare Womens & Fistula Hospital, a nongovernmental organization in Western Kenya that provides reproductive health services to women. Since becoming the first specialized fistula surgeon in the region in 2003, he has performed thousands of surgeries that have transformed the lives of women suffering from obstetric fistula. He is a a Senior Lecturer and an Obstetrician Gynecologist at Moi University School of Medicine in Eldoret, Kenya and is the Head of Department of Reproductive Health at Moi University and at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Previously as the District Medical Officer of Health in West Pokot District, and District Obstetrician/Gynecologist Kajiado, Kenya.
Meshack Wafula
Meshack Wafula assumed leadership of the NASG introduction in Migori County Kenya with Lwala Community Alliance in 2020 and has since overseen training for the NASG in multiple counties across Kenya. As Program Manager, he collaborates with facility leadership and county health teams to strengthen emergency response systems and improve maternal and newborn outcomes.
Nigeria
Dr. Oladosu Ojengbede
Professor of Ob/Gyn and Director, Center for Population and Reproductive Health, University Teaching College, Ibadan Nigeria.
Dr. Ojengbede is a highly regarded academic practitioner and a key participant in the National Program on Strengthening Strategic Leadership and Management, the current initiative on building leadership and management capacity at all levels of healthcare. Dr. Ojengbede has been the primary in-country partner in the implementation of the NASG Nigeria pilot.
Dr. Morhason-Bello
Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan Nigeria
Dr. Morhason-Bello has facilitated several Emergency Obstetric Care Service Trainings on Life Saving Skills for both the Medical Officers of Health and Midwives in Nigeria. He is a National Trainer on Strategic Leadership and Management for Population and Reproductive Health in Nigeria and current General Secretary of the Nigerian Medical Association, Oyo state Branch.
Dr. Hadiza Galadanci
Senior Lecturer and Consultant, Ob/Gyn at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital(AKTH), Kano, Nigeria
Dr. Galadanci is the first President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, Kano state branch. She is a member of the PMTCT National Task Team, Vice President of the National Reproductive Health Working Group and Member of the West African Steering Committee on Reduction of Maternal Mortality. Professor Galadanci has authored over 100 publications in peer reviewed journals and played a leading role in more than 20 studies with WHO, MacArthur Foundation, FIGO, USAID, UNFPA and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. She has also been involved in global research that has the potential to change policies addressing key maternal health challenges, such as the WHO Labour Care Guide, the E-Motive Trial to reduce deaths from childbirth-related bleeding, and the IVON trial to prevent anemia in pregnant women in Nigeria.
Uganda
Mr. Patrick Eyul
Patrick is a social scientist who has worked with development and research organizations for over 13 years. His research program crosses the disciplines of HIV, population studies, immunization delivery, maternal and child health, sociology, health systems strengthening and governance and sustainable mobility systems. Currently, he is involved with Fistula Cohort study in Uganda, that is identifying the opportunities for prevention of adverse outcomes following female genital fistula repair.
Dr. Susan Obore
Dr Susan Obore is a Dr Susan Obore is a Senior Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist working in the urogynaecology Department at Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kampala , Uganda. She is also a fistula surgeon, Honorary University Lecturer and has participated in research related to fistula.
Additional Collaborators:
Dr. Fred Kirya, Ms. Hadijah Nalubwama, Mr. Robert Twine, Dr. Justus Barageine, Mr. Jaffer Okiring
Zambia
Dr. Christine Kaseba
Specialist, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia
Head of Department /Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zambia
Honorary Lecturer, University of Zambia
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, UTH
Dr. Christine Kaseba is a Member of the WHO African Regional Task force and Founding Member of the Regional Reproductive Health Centre Project. Dr. Kaseba has been a consultant trainer in family planning for the MOH and private organizations, served on numerous hospital committees: both academic and clinical, and been delegate and representative of multiple technical teams, women’s assemblies, and public health committees.
Dr. Gricelia Mkumba
Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Of Zambia, Lusaka
Honorary Lecturer, University of Zambia
Focal Person, The Prevention and Treatment of Obstetric Fistula Initiative
Dr. Gricelia Mkumba is a team leader on the task force for cervical screening program and team leader and trainer of PMTCT trainers. Dr. Mkumba has been involved in research into the NASG, as well as a needs assessment of EMOC (Emergency Obstetric Care) and a cancer prevention study funded by WHO.
Rhoda Amafumba
Nurse Midwife, EmONC Specialist, Zambia Integrated System Strengthening Program, ABT. Assoc.
Rhoda Amafumba has held the position of Sister-in-Charge in the Labor Ward at University Teaching Hospital. She has delivered a Life Saving Skills for Midwives Program, has worked with Maternal and Neonatal Health Project with JHPIENGO, has worked with PMTCT counseling, training, and research, and is a member of Prevention of Maternal Mortality Network in Zambia.
Zimbabwe
Dr. Thulani Magwali
Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe
Dr. Thulani Magwali has been a consultant with Advance Africa and FHI in FP in the Era of HIV and with UNICEF and the MOH in Assessing EMOC Services in Zimbabwe. He has been Senior Registrar in Obs & Gyn at Harare Maternity Hospital. Dr. Magwali has researched the NASG and HIV prevention.
Violet Mambo
Nurse Midwife
Violet holds a Nursing Diploma in Higher Education, BSC Honors in Midwifery, a Masters Degree in Midwifery, Post Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion and Public Health, and a Diploma and Bachelors Degree in Theology. She has been a Senior Nurse Midwife. Mambo was the Project Coordinator in Harare, Zimbabwe of the Zambia and Zimbabwe NASG Randomized Cluster Trial.
In Memoriam
Dr. Godfrey Mbaruku
Deputy Chief Executive Director, Ifakara Health Institute, Tanzania
Dr. Godfrey Mbaruku was “one of the first heroes of the modern maternal health movement.” He received his MD from University of Dar es Salaam and had a Master of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. His work on comprehensive interventions in improving reproductive health in rural settings has been adopted at the national and international levels. He was a leader in implementing the NASG as a comprehensive maternal healthcare intervention in over 300 facilities in Tanzania.
Doreen Achieng' Baraza Awino
Director of Health Systems Strengthening, Lwala Community Alliance
Doreen was the lead for the first introduction of the NASG in Migori County. Following the successful introduction of the NASG, she conducted intensive advocacy with the Kenyan government to have the NASG added to national curricula and protocols for obstetric hemorrhage. "A tireless advocate, she used her power of relationships for good, and she moved mountains to make the lives of those around her better. She was many things to many people and at Lwala–a leader, a champion, a mentor, a friend, and of course, everyone’s favorite person to laugh with." Read more about Doreen here, on Lwala Community Alliance's website.