World Health Summit 2026 Stipend Program

World Health Summit 2026

Meet the WHS 2026 Stipend and Fellowship Recipients

For participants from low- and middle-income countries, as well as with lived experience

The WHS 2026 Stipend and Fellowship Programs support individuals from low- and middle-income countries and individuals with lived experience to participate in the World Health Summit in Berlin, October 11–13, 2026.

This year’s recipients bring a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and expertise to the global health dialogue. Their participation reflects the World Health Summit’s commitment to fostering inclusive exchange and ensuring that voices from different regions and communities are represented. The WHS Stipend Program is made possible with the generous support of Wellcome.

"At WHS 2026, I will stand for stronger primary healthcare, local community engagement and use of local data for decision making."

Shamsu Abubakar

National health fellow - Nigeria

"I wish to share, network, and build impactful partnerships that advance meaningful youth participation in health decisions."

Audrey Brenda Nafula

Development Studies - Mount Kenya University

"I believe the perspectives and lived experiences of the Global South should play a much stronger role in shaping responses to interconnected challenges such as climate change, food systems, armed conflict, and health equity."

Juan Camilo Montoya Díaz

M.A. in Social and Political Studies - Universidad Icesi

Shamsu Abubakar

National health fellow

National health fellowship - Nigeria

Shamsu Abubakar is a Registered Nurse and National Health Fellow with over seven years of experience across primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare in Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor of Nursing Science from Jordan University of Science and Technology. As a National Health Fellow embedded in Sabuwa LGA, Katsina State, he led a 24‑month retrospective analysis of malaria morbidity across 40 health facilities, translating routine data into targeted interventions for high‑burden communities. Shamsu is passionate about strengthening health systems, bridging the gap between evidence and action, and improving maternal and child health in underserved regions.

Karthik Adapa

Regional Adviser Digital Health and AI

WHO - SEARO - India

Dr. Karthik Adapa is a physician-scientist and Indian Administrative Service officer. He is a global leader in digital health, artificial intelligence, and governance with over two decades of transformative impact across government, academia, and international organizations.

Abdifatah Farah Aden

Health Officer

UNICEF - Somalia

Abdifatah is a Somali public health professional working as a Health Officer with UNICEF. He supports primary healthcare programs, and efforts to strengthen local health systems. He holds a Master of Public Health and has worked alongside government institutions and international NGOs to improve the availability and quality of essential health services. His work involves supporting health workers, strengthening local systems, and helping services respond more effectively to community needs. Abdifatah is especially passionate about health equity, resilient health systems, and solutions that are shaped and led by local communities.

Vanessa Klimkowski Argoud

Pharmacist

Prefeitura Municipal de Porto Alegre - Brazil

Vanessa Klimkowski Argoud is a Brazilian public health pharmacist and researcher working at the intersection of implementation science, health economics and health policy. She works within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS), supporting access to high-cost medicines and second-line therapy options. She holds an MSc in Public Health from the University of Bristol, where she researched economic evaluation in HIV implementation. Her current interests focus on equitable and economically sustainable implementation of preventive services, particularly PrEP. She is preparing for doctoral training.

Marwa Saleh Shaker Ibrahim

Health Promotion Supervisor

Om Habiba Foundation (AKDN) - Egypt

Marwa Saleh Shaker Ibrahim is a public health professional with BSc in Pharmacy and MSc in Health promotion. I currently work as a Health Promotion Supervisor in a mobile clinic project serving refugees and vulnerable communities in Egypt, where I lead community health promotion activities, supervise outreach teams, and promote equitable access to healthcare. My work and interest have focused on behaviour change, health communication, and strengthening community participation. What motivates me most is empowering people with the knowledge and confidence to make informed health decisions while helping build more accessible, inclusive, and resilient health systems for underserved populations.

Juan Camilo Montoya Díaz

M.A. in Social and Political Studies

Universidad Icesi - Colombia

Juan Camilo Montoya Díaz is a Colombian anthropologist and biologist with a Master's degree in Social and Political Studies. For six years, he has worked at the intersection of health policy, research, and community-based program implementation across the Global South. His work focuses on health equity, food systems, climate change, infectious diseases, and social determinants of health, with a particular interest in vulnerable and ethnic communities. He is committed to advancing interdisciplinary and equitable approaches to global health.

Mirriam Munthali

Medical Doctor and internal medicine senior Resident

Ministry of Health-Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital - Malawi

Mirriam Munthali is a final year Internal Medicine registrar at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES), as well as the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ECSACOP). She is also a CREATOR Fellow at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, where her research focuses on bloodstream and brain infection causing organisms among people living with HIV. Through her work as a clinical researcher, she is committed to improving equitable access to high-quality healthcare and translating research into better patient outcomes. She hopes to contribute to global collaborations that advance resilient health systems and improve the care of vulnerable populations.

Audrey Brenda Nafula

Development Studies

Mount Kenya University - Kenya

Audrey Nafula is a Kenyan development practitioner passionate about advancing the health, safety, and dignity of children and young people. She holds a Diploma in County Governance and Ethics and is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Development Studies. Her work spans child protection, online safety, mental well-being, and access to health information. She has contributed to research with Mtoto News, LSE, and Safe Online on children’s digital experiences across Kenya, Malawi, and Senegal. She is passionate about menstrual health and sustainable solutions, and envisions stronger youth health systems through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and meaningful youth participation.

Nomujuni Neale Natukwatsa

Project Coordinator and Co-chair Youth Advisory Board

INSPIRE, Makerere University Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration and HEPS Uganda

Nomujuni Neale Natukwatsa is a Ugandan public health practitioner, youth engagement specialist, and early-career researcher with over eight years of experience in adolescent health, HIV programming, mental health, and youth participation. He serves as Program Coordinator of the YOU-LEAD Program at HEPS-Uganda and Chair of the MUJHU NIH and INSPIRE Youth Advisory Board, advancing meaningful youth engagement in health research and programs. He has contributed to initiatives with the Uganda Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and research institutions. His goal is to advance adolescent health through co-creation, research, implementation science, and youth-led innovation.

Roland Cheofor Ngu

Senior Technical Advisor MEL - STRIDES project

Family Health International 360 - Cameroon

Roland Cheofor Ngu is a medical doctor and global health professional from Cameroon with over 12 years of experience in disease surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and health systems strengthening. He serves as Senior MEL Advisor with FHI 360's STRIDES project, supporting global health security, laboratory systems, and One Health initiatives. An MSc graduate in International Health and Tropical Medicine from the University of Oxford, he is passionate about using data to strengthen resilient health systems and improve preparedness for public health threats.

Gabriel Adewale Olarewaju

State Technical Facilitator

World Health Organization - Nigeria

Gabriel is a Public Health Professional and Development Practitioner serving as State Technical Facilitator with WHO in Niger State, Nigeria, and Executive Director of Involve Community Engagement Initiative.

Naushalya Rajapaksha

ExCo - National Gender Expert STREAM Programme

International Labour Organization - Sri Lanka

Naushalya Rajapaksha is the Care Economy Engagement Lead at Verité Research, leading national policy initiatives on healthy ageing, long-term care, care economy reforms, and social health protection in Sri Lanka. She also serves as the National Gender Expert for the ILO STREAM Programme, leading gender analyses in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and as the National Gender Specialist for FAO Sri Lanka. Drawing on previous experience at the World Health Organization, she works at the intersection of health systems, gender, equity, rights, and social protection to advance universal health coverage and inclusive health policies.

Sara Nathally Rodriguez Aguinaga

Head of the research department

Eugenio Espejo Specialty Hospital - Ecuador

Sara Rodríguez is an Ecuadorian physician and public health professional, currently Head of Teaching and Research at Hospital de Especialidades Eugenio Espejo. Her work focuses on clinical research, epidemiology, health economics, telemedicine, and strengthening research capacity within public health systems. She is passionate about translating evidence into better healthcare decisions and fostering international collaboration. Her goal is to pursue a PhD in Europe, expanding her expertise in global health and research while building collaborations that contribute to more equitable, innovative, and evidence-based health systems in Ecuador and beyond.

Rizka Ayu Setyani

Lecturer

Universitas Sebelas Maret - Indonesia

Dr. Rizka Ayu Setyani, SST, MPH, is a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Indonesia. She focuses on midwifery education and community-based interventions for vulnerable populations, including women, adolescents, and people living with HIV/AIDS. She has led projects such as SEKOCI, a development of pregnancy class and digital self-screening models for HIV prevention among youth. An alumna of Emerging Voices for Global Health, Steering Group Representative of the Alliance to Improve Midwifery Education, and member of the International AIDS Society, she aspires to advance global health equity through culturally responsive care and resilient health systems.

Charles Wasswa

Research Nurse

Makerere University Walter Reed Program - Uganda

Charles Wasswa is a Ugandan nurse and research professional working with the Makerere University Walter Reed Program in collaboration with Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital. I support clinical research and patient care through participant follow-up, informed consent, data collection, and health program implementation. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNS) at Victoria University, Uganda.

Meet the WHS 2026 Stipend and Fellowship Recipients

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