The new Health Cabinet Secretary nominee Deborah Mlongo Barasa is an infectious disease expert.
Barasa has more than 18 years of experience in the healthcare industry and health programmes, she is an Internal Medicine physician, Infectious Disease Expert at the World Health Organization.
The nominee establishes sustainable programmes in Eastern Southern Africa, supports member states in developing and implementing national action plans, and offers technical guidance on global policies and guidelines.
She has Master of Medicine Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi (Sept 2012 - Dec 2017).
Barasa has Masters in Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (Ongoing)
She also has a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.
Her core competencies include Internal Medicine/Infectious disease; communicable and non-communicable disease prevention and control for clinical cases and public health programs.
She is passionate about improving the quality of life and health outcomes for people affected by communicable and non-communicable diseases and empowering health workers and stakeholders with the knowledge and skills to prevent and control diseases.
She also has a strong background in developing technical products ( guidelines, assessment tools, training modules, SOPs etc), conducting monitoring and evaluation, partner engagement, leadership and coordination from regional, national to facility as well as community levels.
Upon successful vetting and approval by the National Assembly, Barasa will succeed former Health CS Susan Nakhumicha.