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Virginia Thonyiwa

@virginiathonyiwa

Public Health Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Malawi, co-wrote the U.S.–Malawi health implementation plan and secured up to USD 3M for lenacapavir PrEP.

Malawi
Message

At the U.S. Embassy in Malawi, I contribute to public health emergency preparedness planning, national risk assessments and outbreak surveillance policy. I co-wrote the U.S.–Malawi MOU implementation plan and companion tools for HIV, TB and malaria.

I also analyse epidemiological and programme data, line-manage a team of five, and serve as a U.S. Government co-investigator on implementation science funded by the Gates Foundation and NIH. I secured up to USD 3M in catalytic funds for FHI 360 to scale up lenacapavir PrEP in Malawi.

At the U.S. Embassy PEPFAR Coordination Office, I coordinated a USD 40M+ DREAMS portfolio across five U.S. Government agencies and more than 15 implementing partners. I wrote the proposal that won USD 3M in LIFT UP Equity Funds and coordinated work that led the Global Fund to adopt the DREAMS curriculum and safe spaces.

Earlier, I coordinated multi-partner programmes and supported outbreak preparedness, surveillance and frontline health services. My work has included developing plans, budgets, SOPs and data tools, as well as co-authoring more than 15 peer-reviewed publications.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

UO

Senior DREAMS Coordinator and AGYW Technical Advisor

U.S. Embassy PEPFAR Coordination Office

Mar 2022 - Dec 2023 (1 year 9 months)

Managed a USD 40M+ portfolio across five U.S. Government agencies and 15+ partners. Coordinated IDSR planning and represented the U.S. Government in technical working groups.

PH

Programs Officer

Partners in Hope

Nov 2020 - Feb 2022 (1 year 3 months)

Participated in national disease surveillance meetings during COVID-19 and cholera outbreaks. Led the UNICEF-funded ICCAP programme and contributed to the USAID/PEPFAR CORE project.

CM

DREAMS Service Delivery Coordinator

Christian Health Association of Malawi

Mar 2020 - Oct 2020 (7 months)

Led district start-up within the FHI 360-led EMPOWER consortium. Managed a multidisciplinary team of 15 and developed work plans, SOPs, and data tools.

Program Start Up And Licensing
Team Management
Workplanning
Budget ManagementDHIS2
Datatools
AA

Project Officer, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Amref Health Africa

Jan 2017 - Dec 2019 (2 years 11 months)

Managed the district component of a Global Affairs Canada-funded project. Led development of emergency preparedness structures and trained frontline health workers.

UM

Study Coordinator, Lead Community Health Officer and Team Leader

UNC Project Malawi

Oct 2006 - Dec 2016 (10 years 2 months)

Coordinated a consortium of 8 organizations across 7 districts for PURE Malawi. Led community engagement and clinical teams under Good Clinical Practice compliance.

MG

ART Nurse and Adherence Coordinator; Research Nurse

Médecins Sans Frontières Greece

Jan 2004 - Dec 2006 (2 years 11 months)

Provided ART nursing and adherence coordination. Conducted research nursing duties under protocol.

Art
Adherence Counseling
Research Nursing

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Amref International University logoAU

Amref International University

Master of Public Health, Applied Epidemiology

Master of Public Health in Applied Epidemiology, focusing on surveillance, outbreak investigation, biostatistics, and health policy.

CITI Program logoCP

CITI Program

Certificate, Research Ethics

Training in Human Subject Research and Good Clinical Practice.

UNAIDS logoUN

UNAIDS

Certificate, HIV Prevention

PrEP South-to-South Collaborative Learning training.

TI

Tekedia Institute

Mini MBA, Business Administration

Mini MBA covering strategic, financial, and project management.

UNICEF logoUN

UNICEF

Certificate, Safeguarding

Trainer of Trainers training on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).

Amref International University logoAU

Amref International University

Certificate, Monitoring and Evaluation

Training in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning.

SU

Share World Open University

Bachelor of Science, Public Health

Grade: Credit

Bachelor of Science in Public Health with credit.

Moi University logoMU

Moi University

Diploma, Community Health

Grade: Distinction

Diploma in Community Health with distinction and recognition as Best Overall Student.

Amref Health Africa logoAA

Amref Health Africa

Certificate, Nutrition

Certificate in Nutrition.

MS

Malawi College of Health Sciences

Certificate, Nursing and Midwifery

Grade: Credit

Certificate in Nursing and Midwifery with credit.

Tech stack

Software and tools used professionally

Availability

Looking for a job

Location

Malawi

Authorized to work in

Salary expectations

95k+ USD

Job categories

Public Health Program Manager
Program Manager
Senior Technical Advisor
Epidemiologist

Skills

Public Health Program Management
Global Health Security
Outbreak Response
Emergency PreparednessDisease Surveillance
Integrated Disease Surveillance And Response (IDSR)
Epidemiology
Outbreak Investigation
HIV Prevention
PEPFAR Programme Coordination
Donor Funded Programmes
Government to Government Implementation
Project PlanningBudget Management
Financial Monitoring

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