People’s Vaccine Alliance About Us

The PVA Africa Family

Governance and Leadership

We achieve our objectives through the guidance of the Steering Committee, which comprises leaders of five regional networks and never loses sight of our collective desire for the decolonisation of public health and rights-based access to products and science that saves lives, keep us healthy and accelerate our right to dignity as Africans. The Committee includes:

Rouzeh Eghtessadi

Organisation: SAfAIDS

Country: Zimbabwe

Region: Southern Africa

Rouzeh Eghtessadi is a public health specialist, Human Rights champion, thought leader and the Executive Director of Southern Africa AIDS Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS). With her leadership, SAfAIDS works to advance Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) through promoting Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and Resilience building. You can read more about SAfAIDS here: https://safaids.net/about-us/

Onesmus Kalama

Name: Onesmus Kalama

Organisation: EANNASO

Country: Tanzania

Onesmus Kalama is a trained public health specialist and the Interim Executive Director for the East Africa National Networks of AIDS and Health Service Organisations (EANNASO) and coordinating the Global Fund Anglophone CRG Regional Communication and Coordination Platform. A sitting member of the EAC Health Technical Working Group and a co-chair of the EAC SRHR Regional Steering Committee. You can read more about EANNASO here: https://eannaso.org/

Florita Durueke

Organisation: NHVMAS

Country: Nigeria

Region: West Africa

Florita Durueke is the Executive Director of the New HIV Vaccine And Microbicide Advocacy Society (NHVMAS) and a Professional Nurse. She has been working in HIV/AIDS for over ten years. She coordinates the administrative and programmatic activities of the organisation. She has a passion for women’s and children’s issues. Her vision is to see a society with the rights of women and children promoted and supported. You can read more about NHVMAS here: https://nhvmas-ng.org/site/

Sandrine Lusamba

Organisation: SOFEPADI

Country: Democratic Republic of Congo

Region: Central Africa

Sandrine Lusamba is the Vice-chair of the steering committee of PVA Africa and an activist committed to promoting women’s rights and the fight against all forms of violence against women and girls. She is the Executive Director of Solidarité Féminine Pour La Paix et le Développement Intégral (SOFEPADI), a Congolese organisation that fights against sexual and gender-based violence by raising awareness within communities, providing holistic care to victims, including access to sexual and reproductive health; and supporting women in their participation in conflict-resolution processes. She is part of the Movement of Young Women Leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and firmly believes that women and girls must participate equally and effectively in all political, economic and social sectors. You can read more about SOFEPADI here: https://www.sofepadirdc.org/

Tian Johnson

Organisation: African Alliance

Country: South Africa

Region: Southern Africa

Tian Johnson is the Chair of the Steering Committee of PVA Africa and the founder and Lead Strategist of the African Alliance, a global non-profit working on various health rights issues. Tian takes an intersectional approach to social justice. Their work spans advocacy for the rights of marginalised communities, sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender-based violence, white supremacy culture and decolonisation of the development sector. At the African Alliance, Tian leads the organisation to develop consistent programmes and advocate for accountability to communities by enabling them to participate in public health research programmes and the rollout of locally appropriate services. You can read more about the African Alliance here: https://africanalliance.org.za/home/

Secretariat

Lois Ewuraesi Osei

Researcher

Lois is a Masters in International Relations candidate at the University of Cape Town. She has a strong interest in humanitarian action and local policy transformation, and valuable experience in humanitarianism, having interned with organisations assisting and providing services to vulnerable and marginalised people in society. Lois is passionate about standing up for groups and societies that face injustice, human rights abuse, and demanding equality and fair treatment for all.

Martie Mtange

Coordinator

Martie Mtange is a health and development professional with several years of experience in international NGOs’ strategic planning, policy advocacy, programme management, and communications. He has worked closely with healthcare professionals, specifically nurses and midwives who comprise the most significant proportion of healthcare workers, to advocate for better working conditions, spotlight their stories of impact during the COVID-19 pandemic…

…supported and led campaigns to recognise their contribution to healthcare through awards and educational opportunities as well as supported the launch of the Kenya National Nursing and Midwifery Policy.

Additionally, he led the production of platforms that showcased corruption in Kenya since independence, enlightening Africans on what happens when leaders are not held to account. Through these initiatives, Martie works to find creative solutions to injustice and inequalities across Africa for those who are forgotten, taken for granted and marginalised

Barrack Owino

Sub-granting

Barrack Owino Ogwell is a public health and development professional with nine years of experience in program design, organisational capacity development, policy advocacy, resource mobilisation, health promotion and communication in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is involved in programs aimed at social behaviour change communication and advocacy for disease prevention and control, HIV prevention for adolescent girls and young women…

…sexual reproductive health and rights, and economic integration of women with disabilities. He is also experienced in developing health communication strategies, training curriculums and manuals used by community health workers and volunteers to bridge information gaps in grassroots and local communities. Through these programs, Barrack creates people-centred programs and solutions to increase capacities in health, gender-related programs and economic opportunities for vulnerable and at-risk populations to realise improved quality of life, financial freedom and fundamental rights. He utilises his acquired skills to integrate healthcare with community engagement, leadership & community development.

Takudzwa Kampira

Support

Takudzwa is passionate about promoting the rights of minorities regarding equitable access to health and education. As the support lead for PVA Africa, he facilitates all the meetings in addition to managing social media and increasing the membership base of PVA Africa.