Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2025

Bvudzai Magadzire was elected as the Civil Society Constituency Board Member in January 2024, after serving as Alternate Board Member from 2021 to 2023. During her tenure, she has contributed to several committees, including the Evaluation Advisory Committee, the Audit and Finance Committee, and as an observer to the VIS Steering Committee. 

She is the Director of Partnerships at VillageReach, leading evidence generation and impact measurement initiatives in Mozambique, DRC, Liberia, and Malawi. Her work focuses on collaborating with Ministries of Health and partners to inform policy, strengthen systems, and transition donor-funded programs to government ownership. She also engages in global immunization advocacy through groups like the Pandemic Action Network. 

Previously, she spent six years at the University of the Western Cape’s School of Public Health, where she earned her PhD and researched access to medicines under an EU-funded multi-country project. Her earlier experience includes global health consulting across Sub-Saharan Africa. 

Bvudzai also serves on the Scientific Committee for the Global Symposia on Health Systems Research and has received multiple awards and fellowships, including the Obama Africa Leaders and Skoll Emerging Leaders programs. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to amplifying the voices of local communities and frontline health workers to strengthen last-mile health delivery. 

Cecilia Senoo is a Public Health Nurse, a Midwife, a researcher, and gender advocate with over 20 years  experience in global health, NGO management and civil society leadership. Cecilia serves on the board of the Global Fund to fight HIV, TB and Malaria, and the board of Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM) respectively, representing Developing Country NGOs Delegation. She is an advocate for women and youth empowerment. 

She is the founder and the Executive Director of Hope of Future Generations, a Ghanaian community -based health and advocacy organization with focus on women, children and youth. Built on the principles of partnerships, equity, diversity, human right, and Primary Health Care.  

Cecilia Senoo holds MPhil Sociology and Social Work, certificate in Project Management and Health System Strengthening. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Health at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana. 

Deogratias Agaba is a Ugandan-based public health, social/behavior change and policy advocacy specialist, with 20 years of combined experience working in the health and development sector, both at local and international level.  

He currently works with PATH in Uganda as the Senior Program Manager, overseeing the Gavi-funded CSO engagement portfolio, where PATH is the Fund Manager. So far, 25 Ugandan CSOs are receiving subgrants from this fund that is currently valued at US$ 2.1 million, to promote  immunization demand, social accountability and reach zero-dose and under-immunized children.  

At regional level, he has championed efforts to establish CSO coalitions in Zambia, Malawi and India, to advance advocacy for increased access to medical oxygen. As such, he has been an active member of the medical oxygen advocacy and demand generation working group, under the Global Oxygen Alliance. 

Lastly, Deogratias is also an active member of the Gavi CSO Constituency, supporting its engagement activities, and often acting as a direct linkage between the Gavi-funded Ugandan CSOs and the secretariat, to ensure the CSOs are constantly updated and engaged in the Gavi CSO constituency business. He is a proud father of three fully-immunized children; one son and two daughters. 

Desta Lakew is the Group Director of Partnerships and External Affairs at Amref Health Africa, where she leads strategic engagement, advocacy, and global partnerships to advance health equity across the continent. She has over 20 years of experience in public health, philanthropy, and international development, having worked with organizations including UNDP and major foundations in New York. Desta is the founder of the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC), a leading platform for dialogue on Universal Health Coverage and health innovation in Africa. She holds a Master’s in Public Health from the State University of New York and serves on advisory boards that shape Africa’s health and development agenda. 

Dr. Richard Mihigo is the Senior Director for Programmatic and Strategic Engagement at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, where he leads partnerships with the African Union and Africa CDC. A medical doctor and public health specialist with over 25 years of experience, he previously served as WHO Africa’s Regional Coordinator for Immunization and Vaccine Development. Dr. Mihigo has played a key role in advancing equitable vaccine access and strengthening immunization systems across Africa. He holds a Master’s in Public Health from Boston University and an MD from the University of Kisangani. 

I currently work with WACI Health as the Liaison Manager to the African Union Commission (AUC) and coordinates the African Civil Society Platform for Health (CiSPHA). I also represent WACI Health in different technical working groups; i.e., the Specialized Technical Committee for health, the African Leadership Meeting (ALM) advocacy and communication and private sector engagement subcommittees, hepatitis TWG, RMNCH taskforce, member of Health, Nutrition and Population partnership which are Technical Working Groups for health within the African Union. Fitsum also represents WACI Health in the Coalition of Advocates for Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness and has convened African CSOs towards the UN-HLM political declaration on Pandemic Preparedness and Response. In addition, I have facilitated the first conveying of the “One Africa TB Summit” which resulted in the first Africa CSOs Common Position on TB as a response to the UN-HLM TB Political Declaration and to guide Africa’s response on TB. Currently, I am consulting the Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism of Ethiopia (CCM/E) Positioning into existing Health Governance Structures of Ethiopia and by which I have conducted a mapping of the Health Governance Structure, facilitated a national workshop to document roles and responsibilities of the different constituencies withing the Health Governance Structures to effectively support the transition of CCM/E.   

In addition, I was a member of a steering group of CSOs and Local authorities for the 6th AU-EU Summit which then evolved to an Advisory Group for CSOs in the AU-EU Partnerships. I also have coordinated a working group of CSOs under Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the AU which has produced a policy booklet on 2022 theme of the year “Year of Nutrition”. Currently, I serve as a CSO focal point for Africa CDC and CSOs regular engagement and I serve as an “Alternate Member” Ports2arms (P2A) Community Reference Group for Eastern Africa. 

I have a rich experience in research; which was demonstrated in the numerous researches, evaluations, need assessments at Regional and National level on Education, Livelihood, Health and Agriculture. Furthermore, I have consulted the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in documenting good practices on “school-to-work transition” in three (3) AU member states.

Additionally, I was a member of the C-20 Health working group and has served as a technical youth advisor for the Women and Youth TWG of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) 2015/16. 

John Mwangi is a passionate Malaria Youth Champion and the Chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Kenya Malaria Youth Corps (KeMYC), the first youth-led malaria movement in Kenya and a model for similar initiatives nationwide. In this capacity, he provides strategic direction for the Corps and is deeply committed to moulding the next generation of youth leaders in malaria elimination and broader public health. 

Previously the inaugural Country Lead of KeMYC, John helped establish the foundation that empowers over 600 young people to meaningfully contribute to malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) initiatives. 

Guided by the philosophy “Zero Malaria Starts With Me,” John is a creative thinker who integrates innovation and inclusion in his daily work as a Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Specialist. His efforts focus on mobilizing communities, strengthening youth engagement, and advancing equitable health outcomes. 

John is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Health Systems Management and Development, driven by his commitment to building inclusive health systems where people from all walks of life can contribute to better health outcomes. 

Oyeyemi Pitan is a passionate advocate for young people’s empowerment, health equity, and social impact. She serves as the Executive Director of Gem Hub Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the potential of young people, whom the organization sees as precious stones. Through her leadership, Gem Hub Initiative has championed innovative programs such as the Teens Mom Project, which equips pregnant adolescents, teenage, and young mothers with economic resilience and cybersecurity awareness, alongside addressing their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) needs. 

Beyond her role at Gem Hub Initiative, Oyeyemi is deeply involved in health systems strengthening, universal health coverage (UHC), and advocacy for equitable access to healthcare. She has contributed to policy dialogues and accountability frameworks, particularly within the Lusaka Agenda, ensuring that financing mechanisms prioritize primary health care, sustainable domestic health financing, and equity in health outcomes. Her expertise spans across advocacy, policy engagement, and collaborative strategies that drive meaningful reforms in health governance. 

Oyeyemi’s impact extends to global and national platforms. She is a Civil Society Organization (CSO) representative on a global financing mechanism and has been invited as a panelist and moderator for high-level discussions, including at the Education Summit and World Population Day events. She has actively carried out high level advocacies, including to Nigeria’s National and State Assemblies, demanding for effective policies and oversight function of the legislators in delivering quality, affordable and assessable healthcare for Nigerians. 

With a strong commitment to social transformation, policy influence, and youth empowerment, Oyeyemi continues to drive change at the intersection of health, education, and economic empowerment, ensuring that no young person is left behind.