Linda Obura

I am a 37-year-old Kenyan, Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) graduate; currently a Master of Science (International
Public Health) student with thirteen 
years of vast experience in engaging and collaborating with stakeholders; private and government agencies, distributors
and partners to advocate for, create demand through advocacy and lobbying for inclusion in government treatment
guidelines and increase access to our ARV medicines through medical education for the healthcare providers, tender
management and value proposition for the most vulnerable and underserved communities in East Africa. I
have experience in Project management, adolescents & youth, community and Most At Risk Populations
(MARPs) Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV prevention interventions through Evidence-informed Behavioral
Interventions (EBIs) in rural and urban communities, mainstreaming, project planning and implementation, planning,
coordination and implementation of EBI trainings, Peer Education, Behavior Change Communication, outreach activities
and community mobilization. I am a trained facilitator of the Families Matter! Program, Healthy Choices I & II and
community Prevention with Positives.
I have also gained experience on developing and maintaining partnerships and networking with key stakeholders,
government agencies, donors, implementation partners and NGOs, CBOs and youth groups in rural and urban
communities in Nakuru, Laikipia, Narok, Nandi, Kericho and Kisumu Counties. In addition, I have experience in financial
management, work plan development, monitoring and evaluation, report writing, documentation and coordination of donor funded projects.

WORK EXPERIENCE
1. September 2020 to date: Access Manager; Kenya & Rwanda, Johnson & Johnson Global
Public Health
o Developing and maintaining sustainable long-term relationships with key
stakeholders & customers; MoH Directorates, country medical supply agencies,
National Bodies, NGOs, implementing partners, regional distributors, market
access partners, and key clinical stakeholders in public and private sector, to
advance access programs & access to medicines for vulnerable populations.
o Planning and monitoring ARV medicines’ access strategies with customers
including product education and training to health care providers; product launch,
lobbying and advocacy for product positioning, forecasting and demand planning,
tender management; evaluation and submission, monitoring local pricing.
o Providing support to Medical Affairs operational elements in the region such
as product awareness & medical education, pre-approval access programme,
clinical trials, pharmacovigilance and medical information and queries generated
from the region.

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 Achievements
 Successful lobbying and advocacy with the healthcare providers for use of
alternative ARV options for patients hence increased uptake, awareness and
knowledge through medical education and promotional meetings.
 Successful collaboration with distributor for tender management; awarded 5
KEMSA ARV tenders
 Successful development of the regional Logic Models, Evaluation Plans and
quarterly review templates utilized for planning and monitoring implementation
of the Africa Implementation and Impact teams.

2. March 2017 to September 2020: Regional Execution Lead, East Africa, Johnson & Johnson
Global Public Health 
Duties and responsibilities: Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Tanzania
o Advancing Global Public Health (GPH) objectives and strategies through
engagement and collaboration with stakeholders; updating and developing the
product value propositions, country landscape assessments & regional program
implementation.
o Engagement and collaboration with healthcare workers, partners and stakeholders
within the scope of the Focus and Disease areas in HIV, TB, Mental Health and STH;
advocacy and lobbying for product uptake and inclusion within National guidelines
and Tenders
o Managing the execution of the operational elements that ensure sustainable
access and awareness creation of the Product Portfolios across the GPH Focus and
Disease Areas countries in East Africa
o Supporting GPH Supply Chain with the supply chain strategy in the region as it
relates to HIV, TB, Mental Health and STH while providing insights into market
dynamics and other factors that may impact logistics requirements and supply in
the region.
o Ensuring efficient and consistent communication with 3 rd parties and internal
stakeholders, for timely forecasting, supply and distribution of products in region
o Creating awareness of the New Horizons Collaborative program for increased
access to Anti-Retrovirals for pediatric, adolescents & young adults and engage
with country ministries on finalization of the Memorandum of Understandings in
Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda
o Creating awareness of product portfolio at identified local/ regional conferences
and workshops
o Providing support to Medical Affairs operational elements in the region such as
product awareness & medical education, pre-approval access programme, clinical
trials, pharmacovigilance and medical information and queries generated from the
region
o Lead cross collaboration activities for Global Public Health within the region with
the local Operating Company and Global Community Impact
o Preparing quarterly feedback reports to the Operations and Partnership team
leadership and Focus Area Strategy teams

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 Achievements
 Successful launch of the Global Public Health strategies and access to medicines
in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia
 Successful program advocacy, launch and onboarding of Rwanda and Ethiopia in
the New Horizons Collaborative pediatric medicine donation program
 Successful project management, monitoring and evaluation of the J&J funded
Adolescent Girls & Young Women projects through Community Media Trust in
Mathare, Kenya; Youth Advocates Zimbabwe and Nzeve organizations in
Zimbabwe
 Successful launch of Edurant and Prezista 400mg ARV medicines in Kenya &
Uganda increasing uptake and laying the foundation for the Long Acting
Injectable.

3. November 2015 to March 2017: Customer Experience Executive, Safaricom Limited
Duties and responsibilities:
o Customer experience management: Customer Relationships & Needs Fulfillment
o Tackling customer enquiries issues to improve product and service uptake by
customers
o Deliver accurate and timely escalation for customer issues and feedback needing
escalation

4. May 2013 to October 2015: Project Manager, I Choose Life-Africa, Rift valley Program,
Nakuru, Laikipia and Narok Counties
o Establishment and maintenance of the partnership of key stakeholders;
development partners (internal and external), public benefit organizations,
government agencies and community-based organizations in Nakuru, Narok and
Laikipia counties
o Project financial management, budget projection, reporting and expenditure in
compliance with project guidelines
o Manage, review and prioritize project work plans as per project objectives
o Manage and supervise project resources for effective implementation
o Monitor, review and report progress of implementation
o Project technical report writing, document and communicate best practices
influencing project implementation
o Coordinate project implementation to increase Sexual Reproductive Health access
to information, services and commodities in Nakuru, Narok and Laikipia counties.
o Institutional strengthening through policy development and advocacy
o Resource mobilization
 Achievements
 Successful SRH project sustainability through institutional strengthening of
health facilities in tertiary institutions in Nakuru, Laikipia and Narok counties
 Successfully hosted the Nakuru County ASRH policy dialogue forum supported
by Populations Referencing Bureau in May 2015
 Successfully rolled out the Sister to Sister Evidence Based Intervention for girls
and young women in tertiary institutions in Nakuru, Laikipia and Narok counties
in 2014

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 Successfully hosted the Nakuru and Narok County Strategic Plan forums in 2013
supported by ACT!
 Successfully initiated Youth Friendly Services establishment at Egerton
University Sanatorium in 2013

5. May 2010-May 2013: Project Officer, I Choose Life-Africa, Rift valley Program; Nandi and
Kericho 
Duties and responsibilities:
o Peer education training to improve knowledge, attitudes and skills in HIV / AIDS and
sexual and reproductive health among youth in and out of school in Kericho and
Nandi Counties
o Increasing access to HIV / AIDS prevention commodities and services among most at
risk populations (MARPs), youths and rural communities
o Coordinating prevention services among MARPs in Nandi County
o Management of Behavior Change Communication (BCC) activities
o Implementation of the Families Matter! Program, Healthy Choices I and II and
Community Prevention with Positives Evidence informed Behavioural interventions
o Establishment and maintenance of the partnership of key stakeholders, such as
government agencies, development partners and Community Based Organizations
in designated areas of work
o Writing of proposals for funding by development partners
o Planning and implementation of community mobilization
o Planning, facilitation, and coordination of alumni forums for resource mobilization
 Achievements
 Successfully rolled out the I Choose Life HIV prevention intervention program
for students in Kericho county; Kericho Teachers College and surrounding
communities in 2010
 Successfully rolled out the Families Matter Programme; Health Choices I & II
Evidence Based Interventions for HIV prevention for children in and out of
school, adolescents, and parents in Tinderet, Nandi County

6. April 2009-April 2010: Assistant Project Officer, I Choose Life-Africa, Nyanza 
Duties and responsibilities:
o Project technical report writing
o Project financial management, budget projection, reporting and expenditure in
compliance with project terms and conditions
o Capacity building and peer education training to improve knowledge, attitudes
and skills in HIV / AIDS and sexual and reproductive health among youth in and
out of school in Kericho and Nandi Counties
o Organization and coordination of outreach and BCC activities
o Increasing access to HIV / AIDS prevention information, commodities, and
services among youth, most at risk MARPs, youths and rural communities in
Nyanza
o Increasing care and support services for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
o Establishment and maintenance of productive partnerships with key community
stakeholders for effective implementation of projects

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o Proposal writing for resource mobilization
o Project scale-up and sustainability
7. July 2008-March 2009: Volunteer, I Choose Life-Africa, Rift Valley Program
Duties and responsibilities:
o Administrative work
o Technical report writing
o Data collection
o Petty cash report compilation
o Preparation of peer education training material
o Facilitation of sessions of reproductive health in peer education program
o Mentorship of trainees and peer educators

2021 to date: Master of Science (International Public Health), Liverpool John Moores University,
England