2025 AFRO Regional Board Member Announcement
Our members have spoken and the votes have been counted!
We are delighted to announce that, as of July 2025, Shaibu Issa, has been elected to serve as the WHA regional board members for the AFRO region. We congratulate him on his appointment and deeply thank outgoing board member Ibrahima Gueye for all of his incredible contributions.
WHA’s board plays a vital role in our governance and gives crucial regional representation for our member organisations working with people and communities affected by viral hepatitis. The board also helps our members work together, both nationally and regionally, to give our activities greater cohesion and strength.
Every year, the fight against hepatitis becomes more urgent, so we are greatly looking forward to their insights and contributions.
Shaibu's Profile
My name is Shaibu Issa, a hepatitis B advocate from Tanzania, living with the virus and committed to creating change. I was first diagnosed in high school—a moment that came with shock, fear, and deep stigma. Years later, I lost my beloved brother to liver cancer caused by hepatitis B. That loss became my turning point. I made a promise to myself and to his memory: to fight for awareness, access, and justice for people living with viral hepatitis, so that no one else has to suffer in silence or die without care.
I currently serve as the Executive Director of Tanzania Health Alliance (THA), a non-governmental organization I founded to address the gaps in awareness, screening, and early detection of viral hepatitis, HIV, and liver cancer. In addition to this, I hold a leadership position with the Organization for Medical Outreach to Community in Tanzania (OMOC-Tanzania), where we engage health professionals and young advocates to extend education and screening services into underserved communities.
My work is built on grassroots engagement, health system collaboration, and global advocacy. I am a Global Community Advisory Board Member at the Hepatitis B Foundation, representing voices from Africa and working closely with advocates, researchers, and policymakers to ensure the needs of affected communities are prioritized. I also serve on the Steering Committee of the International Liver Cancer Movement (ILCM) and am a Patient Advocate on the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Patient Advisory Group, where I contribute to research, awareness campaigns, and patient-centered initiatives.
In Tanzania, I lead national campaigns focusing on hepatitis B and C testing, vaccination, and linkage to care. I’ve trained hundreds of youth, health workers, and community leaders to raise awareness and reduce stigma. Through digital platforms, I’ve reached over one million people with educational videos and messages that simplify complex medical facts into relatable content. One of my proudest moments was partnering with the World Health Organization to produce the short film “One Man’s Dream for Hepatitis Elimination in Tanzania”, which documented my journey and efforts in making hepatitis a public health priority.
While these milestones are meaningful, I remain grounded in the reality that Africa still bears a significant burden of viral hepatitis. Many people are unaware of their status, and those diagnosed often face barriers to care, including stigma, high treatment costs, and weak health infrastructure. The elimination of hepatitis in Africa requires more than just policies—it demands committed advocates, strategic partnerships, and the leadership of those with lived experience.
As an African Board Member of the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), I would bring firsthand experience and a deep understanding of our region’s challenges. I aim to:
- Elevate the voices of people affected by hepatitis in Africa and ensure their needs shape global and regional strategies.
- Promote capacity-building for community-led organizations to drive change at the grassroots level.
- Advocate for improved access to diagnostics, treatment, and hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination.
- Mobilize youth and survivors as powerful agents of change across the continent.
- Collaborate with governments, health systems, and WHA members to align efforts with the WHO 2030 elimination goals
With strong communication skills, a deep network in the African advocacy space, and a commitment to inclusivity and evidence-based action, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution to WHA’s board and the African hepatitis community. My experience leading both community-based and national programs gives me the insight and determination to connect policy with practice.
My vision is bold: An Africa where no one dies from viral hepatitis, where every mother is screened, every child vaccinated, and every person living with hepatitis knows their status and receives care without stigma.
It would be an honor to bring my passion, experience, and leadership to the World Hepatitis Alliance Board. I am ready to serve, to listen, and to act because I know from personal experience that this fight is not just about numbers. It’s about lives, stories, and the power of community to drive lasting change.