Breakout Speakers

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Dr Michelle Meiring

Dr Michelle Meiring is a Palliative Care Paediatrician based in Cape Town South Africa. She has worked in NGO and Academic sectors since qualifying as a Paediatrician in 2002.
It was while training in Paediatrics at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in Soweto during the height of the AIDS pandemic, that she felt God’s call to work in the field of Palliative Care for children. Her first NGO, called CHOMP (Children’s Homes Outreach Medical Programme) focused on HIV related issues in the Johannesburg children’s homes ranging from PEP for abandoned babies to adoptions, training of caregivers, hospice and palliative care. With its return to work in hospitals, CHOMP was renamed Bigshoes (medical interventions that enabled Orphaned and Vulnerable Children to grow up to fill big shoes) and expanded to Durban and Cape Town. Michelle moved to Cape Town in 2009, also to help set up a Postgraduate Diploma in Paediatric Palliative Care at the University of Cape Town. She still convenes this Diploma in addition to being the CEO of Paedspal NGO. Paedspal provides specialist Paediatric Palliative Care services to children in both public and private hospitals in the city and is also involved in training and capacity building in the field. Michelle is a passionate advocate for children’s rights and has been involved in many advocacy and policy making initiatives during her career culminating in being part of a steering committee who developed a national palliative care policy for South Africa. Her UCT work has provided opportunities to engage with child health care professionals across Africa. She hopes to focus more on this and on research going forward. Michelle has been a member of CMF since her student days and is now a director of CMF South Africa. Having benefitted immensely as a CMF member as a student, she enjoys giving back and providing mentorship to medical students at UCT. Outside of medicine, she loves being outdoors and doing anything creative (from baking to painting and woodwork).

Dr Mathibela Mapane

Dr.Mathibela 'Mapane also known as "Mamosa" is a firm believer in Christ,married to his lovely husband with two beautiful daughters. Passionate about children and highly family oriented. Graduated with MBCHB and intercalated Human Physiology from the University of Zimbabwe Harare. Currently practicing at Maseru regional hospital dialysis unit,Lesotho.

Dr Matthew Wazara

Dr. Matthew Wazara has been a member of the Christian Medical Fellowship in Zimbabwe since 1986. He is a specialist surgeon at Parirenyatwa, a government hospital in Harare, as well as in private practice. He is involved in various medical missionary outreaches, offering health care to remote and underserved communities around Zimbabwe. He is married to his lovely wife Priscilla and they are blessed with four children.

Dr Jessie Chihana

Breakout Speaker

Name:Jessie Mughogho Chihana
Born 31st December 1970
Married
Specialist in Obstetric and Gynaecology
Currently working at St John's Hospital in Mzuzu
Northern Region of Malawi

Dr Pinkie Bala-Mbambisa

Dr Pinkie Bala -Mbambisa a recently retired Specialist Family. Physician with special interest in child health, Anaesthesia ,Travel and Preventive Medicine.
Married -for 50 years to Zweli also a retired gynecologist .
Blessed with 3 children and 3 grandchildren .Now have 2 daughters , our only son passed on to Glory August 2018
Founder and president of Woman of Virtue, a women's mentoring organisation helping women to achieve balance in their lives and reach their full God given potential
Board member of various professional and community organisations including Daily Bread children’s Home that caters,loves and empower the vulnerable and abandoned and also of Focus of the Family -Africa
Active member of our local Business Woman's Association and previous recipient of its Best Award in the Professional Category 2011
Previously involved with my husband in a mentoring program for Christian medical students at WSU helping them to hold on to their faith in a rapidly changing world.
Provincial coordinator for MWASA
Medical Women Association of S.A.
Passionate about family issues,women issues,leadership development ,preventative health and community development .
A lover of Jesus and His Kingdom .Presently enrolled in a Christian Bioethics course with ICMDA

Dr Ron Madhovi

Breakout Speaker

Dr. Ron Madhovi

Specialist Physician | Oasis Family Church

Dr. Ron Madhovi is a specialist physician with a passion for holistic health and spiritual well-being. He is part of a group private practice in Harare, Zimbabwe. Beyond medicine, Dr. Madhovi is deeply committed to his faith and ministry.
Dr. Madhovi's deepest passion is for intimate fellowship with God. His faith informs his approach to healing and patient care.
He serves as a member of the pastoral board at Oasis Family Church.
Ron is married to Yvonne, his partner in faith and life and together they have two children, Bethel and Caleb.
Dr. Madhovi’s commitment to both medicine and ministry exemplifies his holistic approach to life.

Gift Makwala

Gift has been a member of Champions for Life (CFL) - (a faith-based psycho-social support program for adolescents living with HIV) for over 20 years. Currently serving as Director of CFL, Gift has contributed and advocated for a bigger role for PSS care in the holistic treatment of adolescents living with HIV. Gift’s passion to see young people with HIV prosper, has driven him to push the CFL program to 11 countries and 24 cities in southern and east Africa – impacting thousands of lives. Gift has facilitated and fostered relationships with some of top HIV clinics and hospitals in the region.

Gift’s dream is to see a collective strong response from all stakeholders to the issues affecting young people living with HIV.

Dr Tinashe Manyanga

Dr Tinashe Manyanga, MBChB, MMed (Internal Medicine), FCP (SA), Executive MBA, MPH (ongoing)
Husband to Charlene, Father to Mikayla and Mileyna
Internal Medicine Specialist and Consultant at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. Practicing partner at Pioneering Health Group. A public health enthusiast who

A teacher of the word by calling, a student of theology and a Christian Apologist. Been in ministry among young people for over 20 years.

Dr Colin Pfaff

Breakout Speaker

Colin is a family medicine and public health doctor from South Africa. After 8 years in a rural hospital in South Africa, he spent two years in medical mission work in Nepal and later 10 years in Malawi working with HIV and TB programs. He is currently the Senior Regional Advisor for Southern Africa for the NCDI poverty network, which seeks to establish clinics for patients with advanced NCDs in district hospitals in low- and middle-income countries.

Dr Janet Giddy

Breakout Speaker

Janet is a Family Physician and Public Health consultant. She has had experience in rural medicine, primary health care, HIV and TB care, maternal & child health and the education of nurses, doctors and medical students. She has worked as a manager and has been involved in a variety of research studies in the field of HIV, TB, PMTCT, and reproductive health. She currently works for a TB advocacy organization (TB Proof), as well various voluntary projects, including medical history writing, and gender critical advocacy. She is a founder member of First Do No Harm Southern Africa (FDNHSA) which is a voluntary association of professionals advocating for evidence-based care of children and youth with gender dysphoria. She is married and a mother (of 4 adult children) and grandmother (2 grandsons). When not busy with various family and work commitments, she enjoys writing, spending time with friends and being outside in Nature.

Sally Jonh

Breakout Speaker

I studied through UNISA and University of KwaZulu-Natal completed an internship as a Counselling Psychologist in McCord Hospital, Durban. Through the years, with the assistance and passion of many other interns, I developed a Psychology Department in McCord Hospital. My career was fruitfully and gratefully spent, through the glory of God, in McCord Hospital and connecting clinics and government hospitals. At McCord, I was involved in supporting intern medical doctors with their personal, family, and work challenges at this stage of their careers. My interns and I provided support groups for medical officers, in particular, during the hard early stages of the HIV epidemic. In recent years, I moved around government hospitals supporting staff with their Covid challenges. Through the years, my staff and I worked in McCord wards providing crisis and health issue counselling. In latter years before retirement, as part of my McCord Hospital work, I assisted in counselling patients in the wards of a government urology hospital.
I am now retired but still work in various private and HPCSA (Health Professions Council) capacities.
I am a wife and mother of three grown-up children and three grandchildren. I love travelling, gardening, singing, playing musical instruments, and reading. I feel privileged to attend church and various Christian groups.

Dr Patrick Masokwane

Breakout Speaker

Dr Patrick Masokwane is a registered medical and public health practitioner. He is currently the Director of Health Inspectorate in Botswana and is one of the founding members of the Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of Botswana. He has also been the International Christian Medical and Dental Association (ICMDA) representative for Botswana in the past. He is married to Neo Masokwane and they are blessed with two boys, Dwayne-Ditso and Balogun.

Dr Masokwane has worked in clinical settings for over eleven years and has been at the helm of health regulation in Botswana for over a decade. One of Dr Masokwane’s beliefs is that when health regulation is carried out taking all factors in context, it has potential to improve most health outcomes. Dr Masokwane is also an advocate for Christian Medical fellowships and he sees them as a key contributor in realizing comprehensive primary health by advocating for spiritual aspects of health.

Dr Martin Bac

Breakout Speaker

I am born in the Netherlands in a rural village and studied medicine at the University of Rotterdam from 1969 to 1975. As preparation to work in a developing country I did one year surgery and six month obstetrics. In 1976 my wife Mies and I decided to go and work in Gelukspan hospital. This was at that time still a mission hospital but by the time we arrived at the hospital it was handed over to the homeland government.
Thereafter I worked at Medunsa in the nutrition unit and department of Family Medicine for 3 years. In 1990 we went back to the Netherlands and we had a family medicine practice in Leerdam until 2010. From 2010 I got a job at the department of Family Medicine at UP and my main task is the training of Clinical Associates and supervision of the district health rotation of the medical students. From 2017 I am involved in palliative care and developing CPD training and teaching material for district hospitals. I have retired from the university in 2022.
I am happily married for 48 years with Mies and all these years we have lived and worked together. We have 4 boys, 3 daughters in law, 4 granddaughters and 1 grandson.

Dr Ryan Gounder

Dr Ryan Gounder is a specialist urologist in private sector currently and is a honorary clinical lecturer of UKZN.

He committed his life completely to Christ at a youth camp in 1994 at age 14 and has been passionately serving Christ and the Kingdom since .

He joined CMF South Africa as a student in 1999. Post graduation he has served on the executive of CMF SA and since 2020 has been functioning as CEO .

He has a burden for young people and currently together with his wife Lilishia the Lead the Youth ministry at Souls Haven Ministries under leadership and cover of Pastor Jacob Isaac and Pastor Lucanas Isaac..

Dr Ryan and Dr Lilishia have 3 children Caleb ,Christopher and Elizabeth

Dr Getrude Tshuma

Plenary Speaker

National Coordinator, Healthcare Christian Fellowship Zambia
Dr. Getrude Tshuma, a seasoned Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, has provided quality and compassionate healthcare for over 30 years, guided by the principles of Jesus Christ. She serves on various boards, including African Enterprise, Evangelical University, Jesus Cares Ministry, and Healthcare Christian Fellowship Zambia. She played a key role in establishing Hope Radio (now UBUMI Radio), a health-focused radio station, and has held leadership positions in the Zambia Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians and the National MAZ-ZAGO Alliance MPDSR Committee. She has also drafted the Care of Carers policy under the Zambia Medical Association and has been involved in philanthropic efforts, including donations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, she served as the Head of the Obstetrics Department at Women and Newborn Hospital, University Teaching Hospitals.

Dr Faith Masanganise

Dr Faith Masanganise, is a registered Psychiatrist who attained both her undergraduate medical degree and her masters degree at the University of Zimbabwe.

She can be found in many different walks, with the common goal of bridging the mental health gap by promoting mental health awareness.
She is the current Chairperson of the Zimbabwe College of Psychiatry, a consultant at Annexe Psychiatric Unit, a lecturer at Midlands State University and is involved in a WHO initiative to train other health professionals in recognising and managing health conditions. She takes pride in not only shaping the future generation of doctors, by teaching them how to diagnose and manage clients, but by putting emphasis on doing so with compassion, empathy and respect. Her special interest being implementing practices aimed at reducing the stigma and abuse around mental health issues.

Her exposure to Forensic Psychiatry bore fruit to her position as a board member in The Grace and Nelly Project. As part of her work there, she strives to reduce the cases of child sexual abuse in remote areas by promoting period health, promoting awareness of sexual and reproductive rights, providing psychosocial support and empowering the women and children to be financially independent by providing skills training.

In her role as ICMDA area represenative Southern Africa, Dr Faith can be found working with adolescents and young people. She believes in the importance of providing mentorship and creating safe spaces for the young people, in promoting wellness and promoting health. She endeavors to make a difference by not only promoting awareness but by also teaching others the importance of advocating change for those feel too small to be heard, our clients with mental health issues.

Dr Tygie Nadesan

Regional Secretary

Southern Africa Regional Secretary
Tygie is a family physician born in Durban, South Africa. He graduated from
the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine in 1976 and obtained postgraduate
qualifications in Family Medicine and HIV medicine, having been a part of the
ICMDA family since his student days. He planted the Newlands Christian
Tabernacle church and served as pastor, board member as well as preaching
and music leading. He has served on the board of directors for Focus on the
Family and was the leader of Durban CMF (2003-2015). He and his wife
Saras have three children and four grandsons.

Prof Hannes Steinberg

Prof Hannes Steinberg was born and grew up in Johannesburg and studied medicine at WITS University. As a young medical doctor, he worked at a rural Hospital in Limpopo province, South Africa. He is presently associated with the department of Family Medicine at UFS in Bloemfontein, responsible for the training of Family Physicians for southern Africa. He has been a member of CMF-RSA since undergraduate years and served on the executive in various positions during the last three decades. He currently serves on the ICMDA Board. He is married to Ute Hallbauer, a pediatrician and they have 2 daughters, Miriam and Naomi.

Dr Francisca Bwalya

The Finance Coordinator

Dr Francisca Bwalya is a mental health specialist practicing in the medical field of psychiatry and lecturing. She obtained a Master in Medicine in Psychiatry at the University of Zambia. She is also a graduate of the Rhema Bible training College. She is passionate about helping people live their best life, having a productive and good quality life. She spearheads several mental health programs and formulation of policies both in the public and private sector. She partners and volunteers with many non-governmental organisations to improve awareness about mental health and reduce stigma surrounding mental health conditions and services.

Dr Khozya Zyambo

LOC Chair

Khozya is a Family man and a firm believer that people have the capacity to be good and productive once they have an encounter with their creator and understand their purpose.
Khozya is a paediatrician and public health practitioner working for the government. He is A member of the CMF in zambia and the area representative for Southern Africa ICMDA.

Dr Victor Fredlund

Pre-conference & Breakout Speaker

Victor Fredlund graduated in 1979 from London University. In 1981 he started as a medical officer in Mseleni Hospital, KZN, South Africa became Medical Superintendent in 1985 and retired at the end of March 2021. Involved in hospital administration, planning and development, as well as day to day clinical practice. He has written research papers on TB, HIV and Mseleni joint disease; and was also involved in community development, water, sanitation, job creation, education, orphan care, youth work and church ministry. At present running Ngithume Nkosi, which seeks to encourage health workers to a life of service to the community.

Dr Mfanelo Sobekwa

Breakout Speaker

Mfanelo is a medical doctor with postgraduate qualifications in Palliative Medicine. He has great passion for teaching, research, caring for vulnerable populations, missions and reaching out to students. He graduated from the University of Cape Town and practices in the government sector in Gauteng, South Africa. He serves in ICMDA as the Regional Representative for Southern Africa and Saline Process Multiplying Trainer for Sub-Saharan Africa. He is also on the national board of Christian Medical Fellowship South Africa. He is married to Ana.

Dr Michael Burke

Breakout Speaker

Dr Michael Burke lives in an area of the world where Climate Change effects daily life in disturbing ways. Michael will explore options for Christian approaches to health issues related to current and future needs. Michael is the immediate former Icmda Oceania regional Secretary

Dr Augustin Lutakwa

Breakout & Pre-conference Speaker

AEO for Sub-Saharan Africa
Augustin was born in the DR Congo and trained as a General Surgeon in South Africa where he now lives and works. He serves as an Associate Executive Officer (AEO) for ICMDA Sub-Saharan Africa, where he promotes the mission, vision and core values of ICMDA among students and junior graduates. He was also the Congress Director for the 17th ICMDA World Congress held in Arusha, Tanzania in 2023.

Prof Faston Goma

Plenary & Breakout Speaker

Dr. Fastone M. Goma is Professor of Physiology and Cardiovascular Health. He obtained the MB ChB from University of Zambia in 1988, MSc from University College London
(1994) and PhD from University of Leeds (1998). He is Member of National Academy of Medicine, USA Class of 2015 and admitted as Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 2023. He is alumnus of the Christian Medical Fellowship (since 1983) that nurtured him through Medical School and has greatly contributed to his personal and professional growth through the years. He practices primary care medicine in the private sector with significant interest in St John's Medical Centre, Lusaka.

Prof Rudzani Muloiwa

Plenary Speaker

Rudzani Muloiwa, MB ChB, FCPaed (SA),MSc.(LSHTM) PhD, is Professor and HOD in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa, where he is also co-director of the Vaccines for Africa Initiative. He is also head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. Rudzani earned his MB ChB degree from the University of Natal (now the University of KwaZulu-Natal) in Durban, South Africa, completed a fellowship in paediatrics with the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, and an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, before earning his PhD from the University of Cape Town. His clinical interests include infectious diseases, particularly vaccine-preventable diseases.

Rudzani is director of One to One Africa, a child well-being advocacy organization as well as serving on the Board of Students For Better Future (SBF) . A founding member of the International Bordetella Society, he is a member of the National Advisory Group on Immunization (NAGI), the South African National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) that advises the country’s minister of health on all aspects related to public immunization. He is also a member of the South African HIV Clinicians Society and a former member of its working group that authored guidelines for vaccinating HIV-infected individuals, and he has taken part in the national effort to publicize the value of vaccinating this high-risk group. In addition, he is a member of Vaccine Safety Net, established by the World Health Organization to provide reliable information on vaccine safety.

Rudzani has served as the travelling secretary for CMF South Africa as well as ICMDA’s area student rep for Southern Africa.

Dr Alex Bolek

Regional Secretary

Alex Bolek, is a General Practitioner (GP) with Masters in Public and Tropical Health (MPH)

He is ICMDA’s Africa Coordinator and East Africa Regional Secretary since 2017.

Alex is also the chairman of South Sudan Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA-SS)

He is on the board of a number of Christian organisations such as the Scripture Union of South Sudan (SUSS), Fellowship of Christian University Students (FOCUS), ACORD and others.

Alex has a passion for leadership development and is an alumnus of both Haggai International (HI) Leadership Institute and John Maxwell Million Leaders Mandate.

For over ten (10) years, Alex has served with both MOH and international NGOs such as Jhpiego, Healthnet TPO, St. Vincent De Paul Society in different managerial and technical roles implementing public health and humanitarian programs.

Alex has contributed to three (3) books authored by Rev. Colin Salter (UK).

He and his wife Helen founded Timothy School, a community Christian faith-based school and Rock City Medical Centre in Juba, South Sudan.