Media Advisory - African Health Experts Available in Toronto during G8/G20

TORONTO, June 21 /CNW/ - Leading African health experts from East African based, African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), will be in Toronto and available to speak with media. Commentary available on effective and sustainable African health development including maternal, and child health, progress towards meeting the health-related MDGs, disease reduction as well as best practices and innovative strategies being used to address the challenges of training and retaining health care workers across the continent.

Widely acknowledged as the world's leading African health development organization, AMREF was founded in Nairobi, Kenya in 1957 as the Flying Doctors Service. Recipients of both the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health http://www.gatesfoundation.org/gates-award-global-health and the Hilton Humanitarian Prize, http://www.hiltonfoundation.org/prize/ceremonies AMREF staff and experts work to improve the health of the most disadvantaged in Africa, advocate for improved health practices and policies while sharing knowledge, materials and expertise with governments, other NGOs and international health agencies.

Dr. John Nduba - AMREF's Director of Reproductive and Child Health

Prior to his current role, Dr. Nduba was AMREF's Ethiopia Country Director where he was appointed AMREF's liaison to the African Union and was technical expert on the Union's Social Services Health Working Committee. Dr. Nduba has worked closely with East African Ministries of Health, and other key organizations in policy development and national implementation of health sector reform strategies in the areas of reproductive health, national drug policies, child health, malaria and HIV/AIDS among other things.

Ms. Victoria Kimotho - AMREF's Lead Researcher, Directorate of Health Policy and Systems Research

From 2004 - 2006 Ms. Kimotho led AMREF's work alongside the National Institute of Medical Research and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in implementing an adolescent sexual reproductive health program in Tanzania. Most recently she has been involved in the round table discussions between civil society organizations and the G8 Sherpas on the need to address human resources for health shortages in Africa. She has authored numerous papers on human resources for health in Africa and has presented at a number of international conferences.

AMREF experts will be in Toronto for the G8/G20 Summits from June 20-28, 2010.

For further information: OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW, PLEASE CONTACT: Melanie Sharpe, AMREF Canada Communications Coordinator, Office - 416 961-6981, Mobile - 416-871-7345, [email protected]