Comité directeur

Chikhulupiliro Stanley Ng’ombe is from Malawi. At eight years old was diagnosed with leukaemia, and developed epilepsy three months into chemotherapy as a side effect. Though medical facilities in his district do not offer state-of-the-art medical care, he never allowed the condition to conquer him and lives a full and joyous life. Early in his treatment, doctors noticed his ability to talk to and encourage fellow patients of all ages. He set up a non-profit organisation called Cancer Survivors Quest in 2011, which is patient-centred and supports patients in reducing out-of-pocket expenses. In 2016, Cancer Survivors Quest, in collaboration with other organisations, set up an NCD Alliance in Malawi. Chikhulupiliro also serves as a Board Member (lived experience representative) with NCD Alliance.

Ikram Eseghir has lived experience of breast cancer and is a cancer patient advocate. She is the Founder and President of NABD-BC2 (Best Care for Breast Cancer) Association in Morocco. Ikram holds a university diploma as a Patient Partner in Oncology as well as certifications in advocacy, breast cancer and patient engagement. She is a member of several advisory groups, including as a World Health Organization expert, and a reviewer for The Lancet, and is a member of international organizations on cancer and advocacy including the ASCO and ABC Global Alliance. She has authored, co-authored and reviewed publications on breast and women’s cancers and meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs. Ikram has also participated at national and international events on cancer, meaningful engagement and advocacy, including speaking roles, and participates in consultative processes regarding women’s cancers and meaningful engagement of people living with cancer. 

Evans Majau is a Kenyan patient advocate and Programs Coordinator at the Kenya Mended Hearts Patients Association. A caregiver to a child born with a complex congenital heart defect and a person living with a mild aortic valve condition and intermittent explosive disorder, he brings strong lived experience to health policy and community advocacy. Evans serves as Chair of the Caucus of Patient-Led Organizations on NCDs in Kenya and is a Board Member of the NCD Alliance of Kenya, an affiliate of the global NCDA network.He is also a voice for the PEN-Plus initiative advancing integrated care for severe NCDs. Recognised as a Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Champion in 2025, he works to strengthen patient-led advocacy, early diagnosis, and equitable access to cardiovascular and NCD care, championing people-centered health systems across Kenya and beyond.

Lucía Feito Allonca is a lawyer and global health advocate with over 30 years of lived experience with type 1 diabetes. She specialises in patients’ rights and people-centred care to advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC), combining legal expertise with her background in psychology. Lucía has consulted for the World Health Organization, co-creating webinars and moderating international NGO sessions, and is listed on the WHO stakeholder roster for diabetes-related convenings. She serves as a Commissioner for The Lancet Global Health Commission on People-Centred Care for UHC, contributing to shaping equitable health systems worldwide. She is co-founder of VIA Diabetes, a Blue Circle Voice for the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Her work is grounded in social justice, equity, and inclusion, enriched by her multicultural and LGBTIQ+ identity. 

Mohammed Seyam, MD, is a digital health PhD candidate at the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) and a Project Officer at the International Alliance for Diabetes Action (IADA). Living with type 1 diabetes, he brings lived experience to efforts that protect continuity of care when health systems are disrupted by conflict, displacement, and emergencies. His work focuses on integrating NCD services, especially diabetes, into pandemic preparedness and response through evidence synthesis, operational guidance, system mapping, and the design of practical response protocols with international partners. As a member of the Our Views, Our Voices Global Advisory Committee, affiliated with the Eastern Mediterranean NCD Alliance, Mohammed advocates for meaningful participation of people living with NCDs and for rights-based, equitable care that reflects realities on the ground. 

Osarenkhoe Ethel Chima-Nwogwugwu is a Nigerian NCD advocate with over 25 years of lived experience with type 2 diabetes and obesity. She transformed her personal adversity into purposeful leadership, championing equitable access to insulin, early diagnosis, quality healthcare for people living with sickle cell, stigma reduction, and prevention of diabetes-related complications across Nigeria and Africa.

She is the Founder of the Diabetes & Limb Salvage Foundation (DLSF) and an active member of the NCD Alliance Nigeria (NCDA Nigeria) and the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN). Through grassroots mobilisation, strategic policy engagement, and participation in global advocacy platforms, she amplifies the voices of people living with NCDs, advancing inclusive policies that strengthen diabetes care, sickle cell support, and maternal and child health outcomes.

Seema Bali is the Principal of Trio World School with over three decades of experience in education, sustainability, and community leadership. She is the co-chair of the Healthy India Alliance (HIA)/India NCD Alliance National Network of People Living with NCDs, championing lived experiences to inform policy and promote people-centred, equitable healthcare. Seema has led several national capacity building initiatives for lived experience champions in India and works closely with HIA on NCD issues of national, regional and global significance.

A strong voice against the growing air pollution crisis, she advocates for urgent action on poor air quality to mitigate the multi-pronged health and climate related impacts of air pollution from an NCDs and development perspective. Associated with The Climate Reality Project India, she has conducted over 250 Green Campus workshops, empowering youth to become actors of change. 

Joseph Rukelibuga is an advocate from Rwanda, with experience of living with four NCDs: type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and stroke. He is the Founder, Chairperson and Legal Representative of Stroke Action Rwanda, a stroke support organisation affiliated with Rwanda NCD Alliance, where he oversees the management and operations of the organisation and collaborates with partners.  

He is a trained Veterinary Doctor from the University of Dakar, Senegal and holds a Master’s Degree in Animal Sciences from ENSAR de Rennes, France, and a Certificate of Epidemiology of Emerging Infectious Diseases from the School of Public Health of Iowa University. He was a university lecturer from 2001 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2019 he worked as an Avian Influenza Specialist for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Rwanda. 

Living with Type 1 diabetes for 35 years and celiac disease since childhood, Mark Barone is a Brazilian global advocate for people living with NCDs. For over 25 years, he has advanced equitable, people-centred care and the meaningful engagement of people with lived experience. Since joining ADJ Diabetes Brasil, he has contributed to national policies, launched Brazilian Young Leaders in Diabetes Training, and established a South American diabetes camps and associations exchange. In 2017, he co-founded ForumCCNTs, Brazil’s largest multi-NCD network of 250+ institutions from public, private and not-for-profit sectors. A former Vice-President of ADJ and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), he currently serves as Stream Leader for Advocacy and Living with Diabetes for the IDF World Diabetes Congress 2027. He also contributes to WHO-GCM work on meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs and serves on advisory bodies including LFAC, the BMJ Patient Panel, FIND, IAPO, and WHO initiatives. 

Mohamed Osman is a Sudanese physician advancing health equity through systems reform, youth leadership, and people-centred NCD advocacy. Living with metabolic and mental health disorders, and drawing on caregiving experience, he integrates lived realities into policy and health systems transformation. He previously served in the leadership of IFMSA, representing 1.5 million medical students globally, overseeing programmes that mobilised tens of thousands in public health and NCD action. His work now includes coordinating a global network of 2,000+ hospitals in over 85 countries, mobilising institutional leadership for sustainable and equitable healthcare delivery. Mohamed has represented civil society and professional networks in multilateral forums, contributing to global policy dialogues while translating commitments into actionable advocacy at national and community levels. He works at the intersection of diplomacy and grassroots action, helping bridge global decision-making spaces with the realities of patients and young professionals. He is a member of the EM-NCDA Youth Network. 

Prisca Githuka is a triple-positive breast cancer survivor and a passionate advocate for cancer awareness and support. As Founder of the Pink Hearts Cancer Support Foundation, she educates the public on cancer prevention, risk factors and survivorship, while providing essential support to hundreds of survivors. Her advocacy is deeply rooted in her lived experience, shaped by her personal health journey and by caring for her mother who lived with dementia, hypertension and stroke. She is Chairlady of the Cancer Survivors Association of Kenya and Board Vice-Chair of KENCO, leading advocacy, education, and research. She is also part of the NCD Alliance Kenya. Globally, Prisca serves on ESMO Patient Advocate Working Group, the LMICs Working Group of the Global Patient Navigation Program (American Cancer Society) and the Task Force on Women and NCDs by The George Institute. Prisca combines lived experience, research and leadership to transform cancer care locally and worldwide. 

Vivian Leal Barquero is a patient advocate and public policy expert from Costa Rica, recognised for her leadership in advancing patient rights and strengthening health systems. With a background in public health, her work focuses on promoting equitable access to healthcare and contributing to national health legislation reform. Her mission is to ensure that mental health care dignified, community-centred and a recognised as a human right, while working to eliminate structural barriers to comprehensive health and wellbeing. Vivian also brings lived experience to her advocacy. Since 2003, she has faced multiple health challenges, including breast cancer, liver disease, diabetes, and hypertension.  

She collaborates with several civil society organisations, including Destrezas para la Salud, the NGO she founded; the Federation of Patient NGOs of Costa Rica, where she served as President for five years; and the Costa Rica Saludable Association, where she served as President for two years.  

Dr. Abdul Malik is a public health leader and advocate with extensive experience in policy formulation, advocacy and civil society leadership. As Co-Founder and President of Maldives NCD Alliance, Co-founder of Cancer Society of Maldives and Advisor at Diabetes Society of Maldives, he has been instrumental in unifying national efforts to combat NCDs and mental health conditions. He co-chairs the National High-Level Steering Committee on NCDs and is a member of the Mental Health Advisory group. He has held senior government positions: Minister of State for Gender, Family, and Social Services, and Under Secretary for Health and Social Policy at the President's Office of the Maldives. His professional reach extends to technical expertise at UN agencies, regional and international organisations. He holds a Master's degree in Public Health for Development from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and was a US Presidential Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow at Emory University, specialising in Public Health Policy and Management.