Cecilliah Gakii

I am a medical doctor with over 10 years of experience in both clinical and programmatic fields. I am a Public Health Specialist, and an infectious disease specialist with experience in both fieldwork and coordination in various fields; HIV/TB, Malaria, Nutrition, Sexual Reproductive Health including Gender-based violence, Emergency Response, and Non-communicable diseases. I am passionate about creating equitable access to safe and effective health interventions.

I am a committed humanitarian with a passion for working and blending with teams of various diversities. I have worked mainly in low-income, humanitarian-prone contexts in Kenya, and South Sudan.

Professional Experience

Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) Operation Centre Paris- Nairobi.

Country Medical Coordinator. (2020 Aug - To Date.)

The position is tasked with coordinating and implementing country medical programs, ensuring the pertinency of activities in relation to the health context. The position is also responsible for the in-country health and workplace safety policy, and medical repatriation across East and Central Africa. The role involves surveillance and launching of preparedness, response, and recovery interventions in humanitarian crises.

1. In collaboration with the country directorship, I take part in the annual definition of program orientation, the planning process with an annual budget of 7 Million Euros, and ensuring appropriate monitoring and evaluation parameters are in place. I currently oversee 5 programs in 2 counties in Kenya, with the flexibility to rapidly intervene in emergencies in Kenya. 
2. I supported the review of the Kenyan health context, supporting the Homabay County MSF project cycle 2020-2023 addressing exit from mainstream HIV/TB care and treatment in 33 facilities, and advancing the closing of gaps in access to care for patients in treatment failure, adolescent and pediatrics, and advanced HIV disease through health systems strengthening, and stakeholder/community engagement.
3. I coordinated the launch of a chronic disease intervention utilizing a decentralized, simplified model at two primary health facilities in Homabay (Non-communicable diseases plus TB/HIV). The model aims to leverage the successes made in HIV care at primary health facilities, utilizing differentiated models of care and where possible fixed-dose combinations for a better patient-centered orientation. 
4. I coordinate a program tasked with providing medical and psychosocial support to survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nairobi county with an annual caseload of 4000 survivors who through partnerships are linked to legal, protection, and shelter providers. The program is closely linked to a heavy community engagement activity that I supported to launch a new activity that is set to address barriers to access to GBV services for key populations (LGBTQI, street families, sex workers, and school-going children).
5. I also coordinate an emergency medical service program in Nairobi Urban Slums that aims to increase access to secondary health services by providing free prehospital ambulance care and first aid at the community levels. The program works in close collaboration with the county emergency medical services, and community first responders (community health volunteers)
6. Coordinated surveillance for key epidemics (COVID, malnutrition, and Cholera), and through a partnership with country/county disaster management authorities, supported the setup of a 32-bed capacity treatment unit for COVID-19 in Homabay, multiple site cholera treatment unit set-up and patient management support to the Nairobi County. I also coordinated preparedness and response to the 2022 Kenya election-related violence and set up six decentralized trauma sites in Nairobi and Homabay. 
7. Together with the HR Coordinator, updated and implemented the staff health policy framework 2022-2023, and actioned ergonomics adaptations at the workplace based on a workplace assessment commission by the medical department, which has seen a marked improvement in the reduction of workplace-related musculoskeletal pain. 
8. I form part of the medical supply chain team responsible for the preparation of all medical orders, ensuring all procurement, and Kenyan importation policies are adhered to.
9. On behalf of the organization, I engage with MoH, partners, authorities, the community, and other stakeholders in order to broaden the medical-humanitarian situation analysis, strengthen the impact of the medical intervention and support advocacy actions to raise humanitarian awareness. 
10. I am responsible for more than 200 medical/paramedical teams, and I collaborate with the learning and development unit to ensure coaching, training, and mentorship opportunities are offered to the teams in the mission in order to align staff with the needed skills required in expected quality standards.

Medicines Sans FrontiersOperation Centre Paris- Mathare, Nairobi.

Medical Referent- (2016- Aug 2020).

Key Achievements:

1. Represented the organization at county health meetings and technical working groups aligned to emergency response, GBV, and Sexual and reproductive health.
2. Led the team in the proposal, budget allocation, and set up of a Youth Friendly clinic in an urban slum context providing a medical and a non-medical component that involves youth and community engagement and participation, access to vulnerable populations, and stakeholder involvement.
3. Involved in the design, implementation, and rollout of a comprehensive, and integrated model of care through nurses in the provision of Sexual and Gender-Based Services in Ministry of Health (MoH) facilities in Nairobi (Makadara, Mama Lucy Kibaki, Dandora II, and Kasarani).
4. Led the team in the design, implementation, and set up of a decentralized Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis clinic in Nairobi County.
5. Supported Mama Lucy Kibaki County Referral Hospital in the introduction of a triage system, improvement of the patient flow, and improvement of quality of care provided at the Accident and Emergency unit.
6. Strengthening the Human resources for Health capacity of the county Ministry of Health facilities supported by MSF through needs assessment, capacity building, and appraisals through supervision.
7. Took part in the elaboration of guidelines and Standard Operation Procedures at the County and National levels (Gender Based Violence, and Emergency Medical Care policies)
8. Supported the design and implementation of social and behavioral change communication strategies around Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Emergency Services, and Tuberculosis.
9. Managed a team of 100 staff through six departmental heads.
10. Supported the design of monitoring and evaluation tools for program evaluation (Redcap, Praxis). 
11. Focal person in response to mass casualties and response to epidemics (supported the county in responding to election violence in 2017 and in the Dusit 2 hotel terror attack in 2019).
12. Implemented the health policy for international and national staff, providing all prophylactic and preventive necessary measures, structures, and emergency plans, and managing any medical evacuation to ensure MSF staff health.

 

American Refugee Committee(Kapoeta-South Sudan).

Medical Doctor with surgical and obstetric skills, (2014 to 2016).

Key Achievements

1. Consulted on complex/complicated CEmONC cases and provided appropriate treatment for pregnant women who were ill, obstetric complications, trauma, neonatal emergencies, complications of abortion, post-natal complications, and treatment of severely malnourished children. 
2. Ensured functionality of the operating theatre, including adherence to surgical protocols, and ensured availability of necessary supplies and maintenance and repair of equipment.
3. Supervised fifty clinical staff and Implemented continuous quality improvement of CEmONC and outpatient MCH services through work-based coaching.
4. Coordinated with the county directors in the budgetary plans for the hospital projects and accountability to the donors.
5. Supported the designing of data collection tools, and ensured good data quality, timely reporting, and use of data in management and service improvements.
6. Ensured high functioning countywide referral system from community level to primary health facilities (PHC) facilities to hospital level, including feedback system referring facilities and follow-up, as required, of discharged patients.

 

Medicines Sans Frontiers Spain (South-Sudan). Project Medical Referent, (2013 to 2014).

Key Achievements:

1. Represented MSF in meetings at the county ornational levels.
2. Supported inthe elaboration of guidelines and SOPs on maternal, child, and neonatalcare.
3. Oversaw the running of all the MSF-supported medical activities at the staff hospital including human resources and commodities support.
4. Supported the local authorities in responding to cholera and yellow fever epidemic through an emergency response technical working group that I led.
5. Participate in planning, resource allocation, and monitoring the overall implementation of medical activities.
6. Ensured adherence to best medical practices as per the guidelines and standard operating procedures.
7. Prepared medical budgets for the project.
8. In charge of the expatriate staff's health including vaccinations as per the South Sudan requirements.

Avenue Health Care Group, Kenya. 

Medical Officer, (2012 to 2013).

Key Achievements:

1. Managed in-patients within the various medical departments and ensured multispecialty management was maintained for optimal management and subsequent discharge through appropriate follow-up.
2. Outpatient management of patients with proper investigations and clinical management.

MSF Spain,Kenya-Somali Border. 

Medical Team Leader, (2011-2012).

Key Achievements:

1. Consulted on complex/complicated cases and provided appropriate treatment for pregnant women who were ill, had obstetric complications, trauma, neonatal emergencies, complications of abortion, post-natal complications, and treatment of severely malnourished children in Masalani District Hospital.
2. Supported the satellite Ijaara and Hulugho primary health facilities in providing quality basic emergency obstetric care including incorporating services responsive to gender-based violence.
3. Regular staff mentorship for the clinical staff and the community health volunteers across the district through a partnership with other partners and the MoH.
4. Supported the development and implementation of standard operating procedures, especially during obstetric emergencies.
5. Conducted routine maternal death audits and ensure procedures are in place for reporting and prompt investigation of accidents, near misses, and adverse events.

Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, Kenya (Nanyuki County Teaching and Referral Hospital) 2009 to 2011

Key Achievements:

1. Worked in internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology at Nanyuki County Referral and Teaching Hospital.

2021- To Date: Postgraduate diploma in Infectious Diseases,

University of Stellenbosch.

2015- 2018: MSc. In Public Health, Systems Strengthening, University of Liverpool.

2004-2009: Bachelor of Medicine, and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), University of Nairobi, Kenya.