Dr. Onyekwena serves as the deputy director of infectious diseases advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
SEATTLE, WA, November 20, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Obinna Onyekwena, MD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Dr. Onyekwena is a distinguished expert in global health and infectious diseases, serving as the deputy director of infectious diseases advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle. Since 2023, he has been instrumental in leading the ongoing development and implementation of policy and advocacy strategies. He is also responsible mobilizing support from key leaders, driving policy dialogue, and the alignment of global health objectives with sustainable and scalable solutions. His efforts have played a significant role in strengthening relationships and building momentum for initiatives to advance malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases.
Before joining the foundation, Dr. Onyekwena was a disease adviser for HIV at The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Geneva from 2014 to 2023. During this period, he collaborated with over 80 ministries of health worldwide, offering technical guidance to design and implement programs that have reached millions of individuals. He was instrumental in scaling up HIV self-testing, which enabled an additional two million people to access treatment—a breakthrough that has been widely recognized as a game-changer in global health. His work has not only led to improved health outcomes but has also strengthened health systems' capacity to respond to infectious disease challenges.
Dr. Onyekwena's career at The Global Fund began in 2011, where he held roles ranging from Public Health Expert to Public Health Specialist with the Office of the Inspector General. These roles allowed him to oversee program integrity and effectiveness, ensuring donor investments translated into measurable health impacts. His experience spans various sectors, having held leadership positions at esteemed organizations such as UNICEF, UNAIDS, and the United Nations Population Fund. Additionally, he contributed to research and program evaluations as a Quantitative Lead and District Evaluation Platform Lead at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, solidifying his expertise in evidence-based policymaking. Dr. Onyekwena's early career as a medical doctor in Abuja, Nigeria, equipped him with hands-on clinical experience, which continues to inform his holistic approach to global health advocacy.
Dr. Onyekwena earned his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2003, and later obtained a Master of Science (MSc) in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2006. His academic credentials, combined with his diverse professional experiences, have established him as a thought leader in the fields of global health and infectious diseases.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Onyekwena serves as a Board Member of the Stop TB Partnership, a Geneva-based United Nations organization dedicated to eradicating tuberculosis globally. He is committed to leveraging partnerships, communication, and innovation to ensure that advancements in science and technology reach those who need them the most.
As a respected leader in the medical field, Dr. Onyekwena has contributed to academic literature, including authoring 'Global Fund Cost Projections for Implementing WHO 2013 Guidelines,' presented at the 2015 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. He also contributed to several significant publications in the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Journal of the International AIDS Society, and Sex Transm Infect, among others.
His contributions to the academic and scientific communities include authoring several key publications, such as "Global Fund Cost Projections for Implementing WHO 2013 Guidelines," which was presented at the 2015 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections. He has also co-authored works published in prestigious journals, including the Journal of the International AIDS Society and Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Dr. Onyekwena's vision is to bridge gaps in healthcare access and equity by championing policies that eliminate infectious diseases and improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations. His work continues to inspire collaboration across sectors, aiming to create a healthier, more equitable world.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #