Meet the team.

NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS

In 2018, Elvis N. Ndansi, the founder and president of Unite for Health, was one of twelve participants selected to be Obama Foundation Scholars from hundreds of nominations from around the globe. 

In the one-year program, the scholars participate in Columbia World Projects, an initiative in which faculty and researchers from Columbia University in New York City partner with governments, nonprofits, the private sector, and intergovernmental organizations to create tangible solutions to real-world issues. 

In 2019, Elvis received a letter of congratulations from Barack and Michelle Obama on his successful completion of the program. He left Columbia enriched with deep knowledge of international development and policy, and hands-on skills training working with the Obama Foundation team.

In 2016, Elvis was also among the Young African Leaders awarded the Mandela Washington Fellowship, a U.S. Department of State exchange program, where he studied civic leadership at Wagner College in Staten Island, New York.

Elvis is a registered nurse in New York. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Buea in Cameroon, followed by a Masters in Nursing Education. He also was awarded a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Infectious Disease from Euclid University, an Intergovernmental Institution under United Nations Treaties.

Elvis leads operations in Cameroon from the headquarters of Unite for Health in New York City.

CAMEROON OPERATIONS

Trained as physician and a life science scientist, Yauba Saidu, MD, PhD, is passionate about making global development efforts as impactful as possible. He serves as Vice President of Unite for Health Foundation in Cameroon where his focus is on improving access to maternal and child healthcare in low-income settings across Africa. He helps empower underprivileged women with the skills they need to generate income for their children’s healthcare and education. Building human capital drives economic and social transformation in societies that have been left behind by development agendas.

Dr. Saidu is also the Country Director of the Clinton Health Access Initiative in Cameroon where he led the design and implementation of numerous transformational public health projects. Using pioneering scientific approaches such as geospatial technologies, data sciences and human center designs, Dr. Saidu and his team have successfully scaled up public health interventions across rural Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Cape Verde Republic.

Dr. Saidu is also a dedicated advocate for pastoralist communities across Africa with firsthand experience of how the health of the pastoralist is inseparable from the health of their livestock and the environment. He co-founded One Health Pastoral Initiative (OHPI), an organization that includes members from Cameroon, Chad, the Central African Republic, Niger and Nigeria.

Dr. Saidu received his MD from the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon, an MSc in Vaccinology and Drug Development and a PhD in Life Sciences from the University of Siena, Italy, and a Certificate in One Health from the University of Florida in the U.S. He has earned diplomas in entrepreneurship, project management, communication, financial analysis, HR management and strategic planning among others, from renowned institutions across the globe.

He has lived, worked and studied in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Italy, the Gambia, UK, U.S., Nigeria and Uganda.

Willy Akiumbeni is a dedicated professional with over 10 years of experience working with the government and non-governmental organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Nursing Science Degree, an MBA in Management and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Disaster and Risk Management to further enhance his knowledge and skills in fragile settings.

He recently occupied the position of Regional Office (Peace House) Coordinator with Reach Out Cameroon. Prior to that, he served as a Project Manager with Reach Out Cameroon, Area Supervisor with Plan International Cameroon, Field Coordinator in Public Health with the Bamenda Center for Health Promotion and Research/Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Supervisor of Independent Monitors with the World Health Organization, and Senior Nursing Officer at the Bamenda Regional Hospital.

Willy is passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of vulnerable persons in underserved and conflict-affected communities, and is committed to using his expertise to help mothers and children in need.

DR. GODWIN NCHINDA Clinical Research & Knowledge Translation

AJEH ROGERS Administration, Government & Public Relations Director

LIONEL ATUD Communications & IT

LYDIA BANSEKA Accountant

ELVIS MBI Public Relations

GODLOVE NEBA Procurement & Supply Chain