Mary Ajwang, MSPH

Bio

Mary Ajwang is a public health professional with over 12 years of experience in clinical and community program management, specializing in RMNCAH, Gender, HIV, TB, and Malaria. She has a proven track record of leveraging partnerships with national and international organizations, including the United Nations, USAID, DFID, and the Gates Foundation, to deliver impactful health interventions to vulnerable populations.

Mary has led significant initiatives, including directing the Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which transformed maternal care for over 40,000 mothers annually and expanded to additional hospitals across Uganda. She also managed a $3 million malaria control program, reaching over 800,000 people, including pregnant women and children under five. Her advocacy for SRH policy reforms has contributed to Uganda’s RMNCAH Strategic Plan, and her efforts in resource mobilization have strengthened health systems and expanded support for high-risk populations.

More recently, Mary further demonstrated leadership in the GIZ BACKUP Health project, where she developed and documented an innovative community surveillance approach to address outbreaks like Ebola, providing actionable insights to improve health crisis management in high-burden areas in Uganda.

A Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity and an alumna of the Global Health Corps, Mary was recently named one of Uganda's 40 Under 40 most influential individuals. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Makerere University, Uganda, and a Master of Science in Public Health with Distinction from Glasgow Caledonian University, United Kingdom.

Her unwavering commitment to health equity, strategic leadership, and collaboration continues to drive systemic improvements in health outcomes globally.