AlignMNH is a global initiative founded in 2020 to accelerate progress in improving maternal and newborn health (MNH) outcomes and prevent stillbirths around the globe.

 

AlignMNH collaborates with country, regional, and global partners to align the community to accelerate progress by rapidly disseminating evidence and experiences, creating spaces for cross country learning and key moments for public accountability.

AlignMNH is guided by an International Steering Committee of 20 global thought leaders. Members have direct, practical, and in-depth country experience, and represent countries and communities from around the world. This committee provides overall strategic management and oversight to the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC) 2026, as well as to the overall initiative. 

Co-Chairs

Dr. Shams El Arifeen
Dr. Shams El Arifeen

Senior Director and Senior Scientist, Maternal and Child Health Division

International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research

Bangladesh

Dr. Alison Morgan
Dr. Alison Morgan

Senior Health Specialist (MNCH)

Global Financing Facility (GFF)

United States

Dr. David Ntirushwa
Dr. David Ntirushwa

Medical Doctor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali (CHUK)

Rwanda

Committee Members

Prof. Lorena Binfa
Prof. Lorena Binfa

Professor in Midwifery and Women's Health

Department of Women's and Newborn Health Promotion-School of Midwifery, University of Chile

Chile

Dr. Queen Dube
Dr. Queen Dube

Newborn Health Program Lead

WHO HQ

Switzerland

Dr. Cheikh Mbacké Faye
Dr. Cheikh Mbacké Faye

Head of the West Africa Regional Office

African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)

Senegal

Prof. Hadiza Galadanci
Prof. Hadiza Galadanci

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Founding Director of African Centre of Excellence in Population Health and Policy

Bayero University

Nigeria

Dr. Aparajita Gogoi
Dr. Aparajita Gogoi

Executive Director, Center for Catalyzing Change

National Coordinator, White Ribbon Alliance

India

Dr. Gagan Gupta
Dr. Gagan Gupta

Senior Adviser, Maternal Newborn and Child Health

UNICEF

United States

Ms. Mikaela Hildebrand
Ms. Mikaela Hildebrand

MHTF Coordinator

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

United States

Dr. Ntuli Angyelile Kapologwe
Dr. Ntuli Angyelile Kapologwe

Director of Preventive Services

Ministry of Health

Tanzania

Ms. Mary Kinney
Ms. Mary Kinney

Researcher, School of Public Health

University of the Western Cape

South Africa

Dr. Susannah Hopkins Leisher
Dr. Susannah Hopkins Leisher

Assistant Professor

University of Utah School of Medicine

United States

Matron Margaret Mannah
Matron Margaret Mannah

Program Manager, Quality Management Programme

Directorate of Reproductive and Child Health, Ministry of Health and Sanitation

Sierra Leone

Dr. Allisyn Moran
Dr. Allisyn Moran

Maternal Health Unit Head

World Health Organization

Switzerland

Ms. Jihan Salad
Ms. Jihan Salad

Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme Specialist

UNFPA

Jordan

Dr. Martin Ssendyona
Dr. Martin Ssendyona

Head of the Standards Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection Department

Ministry of Health

Uganda

Ms. Bentoe Zoogley Tehoungue
Ms. Bentoe Zoogley Tehoungue

Public Health Specialist

Ministry of Health

Liberia

Dr. Linda Valencia
Dr. Linda Valencia

Vice Minister of Hospitals

Ministry of Health

Guatemala

 

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