Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC)
The Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC) provides independent advice to the WHO global secretariat to support countries’ efforts toward elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) or Path to Elimination of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
Mission
The GVAC provides advice to WHO regarding validation standards, processes and assessment tools.
The GVAC reviews validation reports from the Regional Validation Committee to ensure consistency and compliance with the minimum global criteria. It provides independent advice to WHO regarding validation of candidate countries for EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
If needed, the GVAC also provides recommendations to countries to support ongoing monitoring and maintenance of validation.
Current membership
The GVAC is a multidisciplinary team, comprising members with a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to EMTCT of HIV and/or syphilis and/or hepatitis B. Members serve a 3-year term, with the option to extend. When recruiting for an additional committee member, WHO will conduct a public call for experts on its website.
Call for experts
Meet the GVAC members
Chair
Dr
Angela
Mushavi
National PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Zimbabwe
Dr Angela Mushavi leads the work on elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Zimbabwe and is the current chair of the WHO Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC).
Learn moreCo-chair
Dr
Annette
Sohn
Director, TREAT Asia, amfAR Thailand
Dr Annette Sohn is the Director of TREAT Asia and a Vice President of amfAR – The Foundation for AIDS Research. She is the current co-chair of the WHO Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC).
Learn moreMembers
Dr Shabbir Ismail Argaw
Senior Director of Strategic Information and Evaluation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Professor Benjamin Cowie
Department of Infectious Diseases, Melbourne Medical School
Ms Nyasha Chingore-Munazvo
Programmes Lead at AIDS and Rights Alliance in Southern Africa (ARASA)
Dr Sandra Dudareva
Co-lead for Viral Hepatitis, The Robert Koch Institute
Professor Sarah Hawkes
Professor of Global Health, Institute for Global Health, University College London
Professor Quazi Monirul Islam
Faculty of Medicine, Prince Songkla University, Thailand
Dr Mary Kamb
Lead for Elimination and Control/Epidemiology Team in the Parasitic Diseases Branch, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ms Lorraine Misquith
Senior Advocacy Manager for Greater Asia, Lawyers Collective India
Dr Michele Montandon
Medical Officer in the Maternal and Child Health Branch, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ms Lillian Mworeko
Executive Director, International Community of Women living with HIV Eastern Africa
Dr Lori Newman
Medical Officer in the Enteric and Sexually Transmitted Infections Branch, US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Professor Nataliya Nizova
Consultant, Public Health Center of The Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Professor Rosanna Peeling
Professor and Chair of Diagnostics Research
Dr Genesis Samonte
Dr Nathan Shaffer
Independent consultant
Ms Ntombifuthi Precious Shongwe
Acting National Coordinator, Swaziland National Network of Young Positives (SNYP+)
Dr Melanie Taylor
Medical Epidemiologist in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr Rania Tohme
Lead of the Hepatitis B and Tetanus Team in the Global Immunization Division, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ms Fatima Tsiouris
Senior PMTCT Technical Advisor and Deputy Director of the HRH Workforce Development Unit, ICAP at Columbia University
Ms Valerie Wilson
Director, Caribbean Med Labs Foundation
Dr Clement Zeh
Team Lead for HIV Viral Load and Early Infant Diagnosis, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ms Deborah von Zinkernagel
Co-Director, STRIPE (Strengthening Interprofessional Education) for HIV
Dr Su Wang
President, World Hepatitis Alliance
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