Lea Kilenga Masamo is a patient expert making sickle cell a global health priority. She has 10 years’ experience solving sickle cell problems in rural, resource poor communities in sub-Saharan Africa to overcome health, racial, economic and gender inequities that lead to premature and unnecessary death and disability. She is the founder and CEO of Africa Sickle Cell Organization, an organization that envisions a world free from sickle cell suffering no matter where you live.
Her lifetime experience and dedication towards inclusion of patients in global health decision making led to her appointment to the NCD Alliance, “Our Views, Our Voices” Global Advisory committee. Lea is a recognised Sickle Cell Champion in Kenya and has received an award from Kenya’s president H. E Uhuru Kenyatta, for improving sickle cell care in Kenya. She currently works closely with the WHO and global health partners to advance meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs in global NCD response and the global prioritization of sickle cell. Lea is an Aspen Ideas Health Fellow and an Aspen SOAR Fellow.
She is pursuing her Masters in Global Health Delivery at the University of Global Health Equity.
Lea’s favourite things are African blues music, chakacha dance and the warm ocean waters.
