To improve access to high-quality health products worldwide, the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management project employs cutting-edge technologies and industry best practices to make global health supply chains more efficient and reach more people.
Chemonics at the 2024 Global Health Supply Chain Summit .
Event | November 14, 2024
Chemonics is thrilled to be a platinum sponsor of the 2024 Global Health Supply Chain Summit
The Global Health Supply Chain Summit (GHSCS) 2024 is taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 12-15, and provides experts from government, academia, NGOs and civil society, industry, donor agencies, and multilateral organizations the opportunity to explore the theme of “Value Chain Innovations for Universal Health Coverage.”
In addition to being a platinum sponsor of this year’s summit, Chemonics is looking forward to hosting a panel titled “The future of supply chain technical assistance: Exploring critical pathways for local sustainability.”
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with established national health supply chain systems, the push to local long-term sustainability will depend on strengthening capacity of the local institutions and actors to efficiently and effectively manage supply chain functions. This session will consider what is needed to build the capacity of local systems and regulatory bodies to address the remaining gaps in health service delivery. The panel will discuss topics such as supply chain governance, financing, regulatory strengthening and pharmaceutical management. They will also explore avenues for fostering collaboration between local and regional stakeholders and sectors to enable innovation and realize greater efficiencies.
Moderator
Judi Heichelheim, SVP and IDIQ Director, GHSC-PSM project, Chemonics
Judith Heichelheim is a senior vice president at Chemonics and indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) director for the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project. She has 25 years of experience in the development sector, specializing in programs targeting women and girls, and a passion for making transformational change in healthcare. Judith brings deep experience with a variety of implementation strategies, including private sector engagement, social franchising, social enterprise, market dynamics, and applying marketing discipline to public health initiatives. She has conducted long-term assignments in Russia, Botswana, and Guatemala, where she implemented public health programs on HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health and rights, malaria, and non-communicable diseases. Most notably, she has worked to make multiple contraceptives accessible in markets across the globe, successfully navigating complex regulatory and tax requirements. Judith holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature and linguistics with a minor in international relations from Cornell University, and a master’s degree in international development studies from The George Washington University.
Panelists
Azuka Okeke, CEO, Africa Resource Center for Excellence in Supply Chain Management
Azuka oversees supply chain transformation projects in Nigeria and has also supported other African countries in strengthening their health systems. She is best known for her expertise in engaging governments and development partners, supporting them to prioritize and invest in health supply chain programs in Africa. Her work has improved financial investments in health supply chains by State governments in Nigeria worth over $5,000,000 and co-investments worth over $12,000,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Global Fund, and GAVI. Azuka has currently pioneered the set-up of a first of its kind Membership Platform for the private corporate sector in Nigeria through which private corporates and individual experts have contributed about $750,000 to public health programs within the past five years. Her ambition is to provide governments and partners with a pragmatic framework for health financing and government ownership for supply chain delivery. Azuka’s most recent achievement is in setting up a pan African Centre of Excellence (CoE) platform in Nigeria, championing a collaboration with MIT SCALE in Zaragoza Logistics Centre, Spain, Arizona State University, School of Supply Chain, and local universities in Nigeria. The CoE platform provides Africans ready access to supply chain education and research facilities, required across industries.
Barry Chovitz, HSS Strategy & Design Technical Director, GHSC-PSM project, Chemonics
Barry Chovitz has almost 30 years of experience in pharmaceutical supply chain management, working as a director or deputy director for supply chain projects in Tanzania, Namibia, and Mozambique. Barry has participated in a variety of supply chain management technical activities including strategy development, preparing annual work plans and budgets, designing supply chain distribution, inventory control and information systems, commodity forecasts and supply plans, and developing tools for supply chain supervision. As a part of the USAID Global Health Supply Chain-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) project, he has supported programs in Angola, Liberia, Namibia, Malawi, and Zambia. He currently works with the GHSC-PSM’s health systems strengthening team to provide technical support in supply chain capacity building. Prior to joining Chemonics, Barry managed projects focused on nutrition, water and sanitation, and social behavior change communication. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Virginia and George Washington University, respectively.
Daniel Taddesse, Malawi Country Director, GHSC-PSM project, Chemonics
Daniel Taddesse is a seasoned pharmaceutical supply chain professional who has been serving as the Country Director for GHSC-PSM for over eight years, initially in Ethiopia from the project’s inception in September 2016, and currently in Malawi since November 2019. Before joining GHSC-PSM, Mr. Taddesse was the Deputy Country Director for the $290 million Supply Chain Management Systems (SCMS) project for five years. In these roles, Mr Taddesse collaborated closely with his team to define the supply chain projects’ strategic direction, led the implementation of national supply chain strengthening technical assistant activities, managed monitoring and evaluation systems, and directly supervised technical managers to ensure timely and technically sound implementation of work plans. Mr. Taddesse holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, a Master of Business Administration, and an Advanced Degree in Public Health.
Lindabeth Doby, Senior Digital Supply Chain Advisor, USAID
Lindabeth has over 25 years of experience in information systems implementation specializing in supply chain, traceability and financial systems as well as data standardization, data warehouses and visualizations. Currently a Senior Digital Supply Chain Advisor with USAID, she advises on numerous country digital supply chain topics and solutions ranging from global standards and traceability solutions, large Enterprise Resource Planning systems, Warehouse Management Systems and electronic Logistics Management Information Systems. Lindabeth collaborates with colleagues from other global donor organizations to promote global data standards, system interoperability and data exchange for better end to end supply chain visibility. Prior to working with USAID, she managed several large projects for two financial institutions with extensive world-wide presence. In addition to holding master degrees in Engineering (ME) and business (MBA), she is a certified Project Management Professional, Certified Supply Chain Professional and has volunteered extensive time in numerous civic organizations over the past 20 years.
Tariku Belachew, Deputy Director General, Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service
Tariku Belachew is an accomplished healthcare professional with significant experience in health administration and management. He has served as the Deputy Director General of the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service since February 2022. Prior to this role, he held various positions, including Deputy Head of the Amhara Regional Health Bureau and Chief Executive Officer of Debere Markos Referral Hospital. Mr. Tariku has a strong educational foundation, holding a master’s degree in health care and hospital administration from Jimma University and a bachelor’s degree in science in public health from the University of Gondar. Mr. Tariku has published four research articles on various health topics and has participated in numerous training programs to enhance his skills in health management and communication. Mr. Tariku is also an active member of several organizations, including the Red Cross and the Amhara Development Association. He is dedicated to improving healthcare services and is recognized for his commitment to public health in Ethiopia.
USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management Project Participation
In addition to the abovementioned panel, the GHSC-PSM project will be showcasing their work in multiple exciting presentations over the course of the conference. For more information about these presentations, please visit their conference hub.