Dr. Elizabeth Juma

Dr Elizabeth Juma is a public health physician and global health leader with more than 20 years of experience in disease control, health systems strengthening, partnership development, and programme management across Africa. She currently serves as Team Lead of the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (ESPEN) at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, where she provides strategic leadership for efforts supporting countries to accelerate progress towards the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In her current role, Dr Juma oversees ESPEN's regional portfolio, working closely with Ministries of Health, regional institutions, donors, implementing partners and communities to strengthen country ownership and advance the implementation of the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021-2030. She has led the development of the ESPEN Strategy 2026-2030, guiding the programme's evolution towards integrated, sustainable and country-led approaches to NTD elimination. She has also played a key role in mobilizing resources, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing regional collaboration to sustain progress towards NTD and broader disease elimination goals. Prior to leading ESPEN, Dr Juma held several senior positions within WHO, including serving as Cluster Lead for Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases in Ghana and Team Leader for Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases at WHO's Intercountry Support Team for East and Southern Africa. She has also served as Kenya's National Malaria Control Programme Manager and worked with the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), supporting high-level advocacy and accountability initiatives across the continent. Throughout her career, Dr Juma has championed evidence-based decision-making, integrated approaches to disease control, health equity, and strengthened partnerships to improve health outcomes. She is widely recognized for her commitment to supporting countries in translating global health commitments into impactful national action and for her leadership in advancing the elimination of neglected tropical diseases as a public health problem across Africa. Motivated by a belief that every community should have the opportunity to live free from preventable and debilitating diseases, Dr Juma is passionate about supporting countries to build sustainable, locally owned solutions that improve health and well-being. She is particularly inspired by the resilience of affected communities and the collective power of partnerships to transform ambitious public health goals into lasting impact.