The CSEM Advisory Group

Melissa Wanda is an ardent advocate currently leading PATH’s work on the continuum of care for maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), primary health care (PHC) and immunization advocacy to enhance health at the national and sub-national level in Kenya.

She has over ten years of experience in public health policy and has provided technical assistance to governments to develop primary health care-related policies including the Kenya Primary Health Care Network Guidelines, 2021 and the Kenya Advocacy, Communications and Community Engagement Framework for Primary Health Care in Kenya 2021-2024. Previously, she worked for Management Sciences for Health (MSH) in Kenya under the FCI Program advocating for reproductive maternal, newborn, child & adolescent health (RMNCAH) prioritization and policy implementation, providing technical oversight to MNH program implementation, supporting corporate communication and development of new business for health systems strengthening toward better health outcomes. She has been a nominee for the global 120Under40 initiative for young Family Planning leaders. She is a member of various government technical working groups nationally including immunization TWG and immunization financing sub-committee; and globally including the Global Financing Facility CSO Coordination Group, Global ICFP Advocacy & Accountability Sub-Committee, PHCPI’s Virtual Implementation Learning Exchange on Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and is a current host to Kenya’s PHC Collaborative. She provides technical support for the development of advocacy strategies, supports policy review and implementation. She provides support the Allies Improving PHC, interacting with stakeholders working complementarily to maintain PHC salience in global health discourse and prioritization.

Melissa has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and an MPH degree from the University of Nairobi.