Gerald Yonga

Gerald has been involved in NCD advocacy internationally for more than 18 years. He is founder Chair of NCD Alliance Kenya, East Africa NCD Alliance and Africa NCD Alliances Network and a Board member of The NCD Alliance (Global). He was instrumental in advocacy for the setting up of NCD unit in MOH in Kenya in 2001 and was member of national steering committee on NCD research and policy under Kenya Medical Research institute (KEMRI) from 2003 to 2010. He led the formation of a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary civil society group that worked closely with MOH to coordinate Kenya’s participation in the UNHLM on NCDs in 2011 and in developing the Kenya NCD Policy and Action Plan which was eventually launched in 2015. He was also a member of the steering group who coordinated the WHO STEPs survey in Kenya. He is a member of the global steering committee of the NIH/Forgarty PEPFAR project which has been researching and advocating for integration of NCD prevention and care into the HIV PEPFAR platform in LMIC; now being piloted globally. He has attended and made NCD advocacy presentations at numerous regional (East African Community, African Union, WHO Afro) meetings, WHO World Assembly meetings, UN General Assembly CSO hearing in 2014 and many professional society meetings around the world. Gerald is credited for the formation and coordination of strong NCD movement in Africa, is a strong global advocate for NCD action in LMIC and a consultant for innovative solutions and evidence for policy and action on NCDs.