Dr. Ellen Mkondya-Senkoro (MD, MPH)
Dr. Ellen Mkondya-Senkoro was appointed on 5th January 2023 by the President of United Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan to be the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Muhimbili National Hospital effective from 5th January 2023 to 4th January 2026. Furthermore Dr. Ellen is currently active board member of the Tanzania National Council to End Malaria; Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation (founded by Madam Mariam Mwinyi, First Lady of Zanzibar) and National AIDS Trust Fund of Tanzania. In the past she has been a Board member and Vice Chairperson of the former Board of Trustees of the Muhimbili National Hospital Upanga and Mlonganzila; Advisory Board member of Non-Governmental Organizations such as AMREF Health Africa (Tanzania), T-MARC, Management Development for Health (MDH)); Board member of the Resolution Insurance Company, Tanzania; Vice President of the Convocation of the Muhimbili University Health Allied and Sciences (MUHAS) and also has been a representative members for the National NGO Constituency in the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria-Tanzania National Coordination Mechanism structure.
Dr. Ellen a medical doctor and public health by profession is a renowned leader in the global health space, with over 28 years of practice and having a three-dimension understanding of the Tanzania’s health sector, a rare blend of experience from working with the Government of Tanzania, Multilateral organization (UNFPA), and Non-Government Organization (NGO). Under the different portfolios, she has executed sound leadership, management, technical and policy advice to national-wide health and development programs as well as formulations and reviews of national policies and strategic frameworks. She is familiar and has been actively engaged in the national reforms of the Health sector, Local Government Sector and Public Sector in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
Under her able leadership and as a founding CEO of the Mkapa Foundation (current employer), Dr. Ellen nurtured the Foundation, named after its Founder, His Excellency (Late) Benjamin William Mkapa, 3rd Former President of Tanzania from its establishment in 2006 to date. In the course of its 17 years, the Foundation has impacted over 25 million lives in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar with upstream and downstream health sector interventions, particularly in health systems strengthening. She has led Institutional sustainability mechanism through creation of an Endowment Fund for the Foundation, establishment of a Special Purpose autonomous business vehicle that runs health-related business-for-profit and leading bi-annual legacy forum in honour and memory of HE. Late Mkapa which engages high-level national and global leaders. Under technical advisory capacity, Ellen has been part of the country’s delegation to several global level meetings/forums, that were led by the Head of State, Former Heads of State, Ministers and others. Through Dr. Ellens visionary leadership, a coalition of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in Health Sector was adopted and the Mkapa Foundation was leading as the secretariat, at the same time the Foundation assuming co-leadership role on some Technical Working Group of the Ministry of Health