Executive Committee
We have a very strong steering board committee that spans a variety of intellectual fields
Chairperson
Prof. Collins Ouma
Prof Collins Ouma previously served as the Research Scientist and Program Leader, Health Challenges at African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), and Director, Research and Knowledge Translation at the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP). Prior to joining the two pan-African institutions (APHRC and AFIDEP), Prof. Ouma served as the Director of Research, Publications and Innovations at Maseno University, Kenya, where he has also held many senior academic and administrative positions including Dean, School of Public Health and Community Development. Earlier in his career, Prof. Ouma served as a Senior Research Officer with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) based at the Centre for Global Health and Research (CGHR) in Kisumu, Kenya, and within the National Institutes of Health-funded Severe Malarial Anemia (SMA) Project.
A geneticist by training, Prof. Ouma’s work covers major health challenges in Africa including infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, non-communicable diseases, and health systems-related issues. His work on the genetic basis of severe malarial anemia in pediatric populations has been published in leading international peer-reviewed journals including Nature, Malaria Journal, Infection and Immunity, Human Genetics, BMC Genetics, among others. In recognition of this work, Prof. Ouma received the Pfizer Royal Society Best African Scientist Award in 2010. He is a member of the Kenya National Academy of Sciences. Currently Prof. Ouma continues to lead a dynamic team of over 40 multi-disciplinary researchers working on multiple thematic program areas within the Maseno University and her collaborators: Non-communicable Diseases; Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Health Systems; and Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health.
Vice Chairperson, NRHS Board
Madam Alie Eleveld
Alie Eleveld holds a Master in Public Health with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She has worked in Eastern Africa (Zambia, Congo, South Sudan and Kenya) leading public health programs and research since 1984. She is permanent resident in Kenya. She is founder of Safe Water and AIDS Project (SWAP) an award winning NGO which is operating in 7 counties in Western Kenya with public health programs, research and emergency response.
Under her leadership SWAP has implemented research in partnership with GOK and National and International Research Partners focused on WASH, Menstrual Hygiene Management, Early Childhood Development, Maternal and Child Health, Clean Cook stoves and COVID-19. This has led to over 60 publications in International peer reviewed journals. Alie has been active member of the Health NGO Network (HENNET) and was National Chair between 2017 and 2019. She further provides advisory services in various MOH led technical working groups. Alie was decorated by the Dutch Queen as “Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau” for her work in HIV and her dedication to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable and marginalized communities.
In 2020 she was appointed by the Council of Governors as member of the Lake Region Economic Bloc COVID-19 advisory committee of eminent persons.
Co-Founder and Secretary of NRHS Board
Prof. Robert Bailey
Robert Bailey is Co-founder and Secretary of the Executive Committee of NRHS. Robert holds a PhD in Biological Anthropology from Harvard University and an MPH in Epidemiology from Emory University.
Prof. Bailey’s research and public health efforts have focused primarily on issues of human health in Africa and has included investigations of demography, growth and nutrition of Efe Pygmies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, prevention of maternal to child transmission of HIV in Ivory Coast and Thailand, risk factors for sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the Congo, Uganda and Kenya, support for people living with HIV/AIDS, and risk factors for HIV in men who have sex with men in Kenya. He was the Principal Investigator of the NIH-funded randomized controlled trial of male circumcision for HIV prevention in Kisumu with NRHS as the key Kenyan organization. He has supervised studies in Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Dominican Republic and Papua Indonesia into acceptability and feasibility of introducing circumcision for HIV/STD prevention and reproductive health. He has served on the Board of NRHS since its inception in 2002 and has collaborated with NRHS and FHI 360, the U.S. Government under CDC-PEPFAR, and the Kenyan Ministry of Health to provide a comprehensive package of HIV prevention services including male circumcision in western Kenya and to conduct operational research in conjunction with those interventions. Bailey collaborates with investigators and policy makers from numerous countries and institutions around the world.
Author or co-author of six books and over 120 publications, Prof. Bailey consults on matters relating to national and international health and infectious disease prevention for the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, UNICEF, USAID, CDC, and others.
Board Member
Isaac Okero
Isaac E. N. Okero studied law at the University of Buckingham in the United Kingdom and signed the Roll of Advocates in December 1989.
Board Member
Prof Walter Jaoko
Professor Walter Jaoko is a physician and professor of Medical Microbiology and Tropical Medicine and Director of KAVI-Institute of Clinical Research, at University of Nairobi. He is also an Extraordinary Professor of Medicine at Stellenbosch University, and Visiting Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham. He holds a bachelor’s degree in medicine and PhD in medical microbiology from University of Nairobi, a master’s degree in Tropical Medicine from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, a postgraduate Diploma in Health Research Ethics from Stellenbosch University as a Fogarty Scholar, and a master’s degree in Global Bioethics from Anahuac University in Mexico.
He is a Fellow of the Africa Academy of Sciences, and has conducted clinical research for the past 30 years in various aspects of infectious diseases. He also has an interest in health research ethics and promotion of ethical standards in the conduct of health research in developing countries. In this regard, he has conducted trainings in research ethics in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Botswana, and serves as a research ethics committee member at Strathmore University, a private university in Nairobi. His experience in governance spans over 20 years during which he has served as a Director in Boards of several non-governmental and research organizations.
Board Member
Mr. Njeru Alex
He has spent of most of his career time in developing accounting and reporting systems in medium and large size organizations. Before joining his current employer, Alex worked as the head of Internal Audit in the Telecom Industry with Econet Wireless (Later Essar Telkom). He also held various roles in Audit and Finance at Tourism Promotion Services East Africa (Serena Hotels). Alex holds a bachelor’s in science Degree in Business Administration Majoring in Finance Alex is Finance Professional with over 20 years’ experience in the private and NGO sectors. He is currently the Chief Finance Officer for Population Services Kenya. He has spent of most of his career time in developing accounting and reporting systems in medium and large size organizations.
