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Global ARCH welcomes five new and one returning board member

Global ARCH / Global ARCH welcomes five new and one returning board member

Global ARCH welcomes five new and one returning board member

by
September 6, 2020

Global ARCH welcomes five new and one returning board member: Ruth Ngwaro, Grace Jerald, Lavinia Ndinangoye, Mehwish Mukhtar, David La Fontaine, and Bistra Zheleva.

Ruth Ngwaro is originally from Kenya but is now living in the United States. As a congenital heart disease (CHD) patient, Ruth founded the non-profit organization Kenya Mended Hearts Patient’s Association (KMHPA). Through her impressive leadership, the organization continues to successfully advocate for congenital heart disease and rheumatic heart disease rights, policy changes, and creating awareness in the community.

Grace Jerald was the first congenital heart disease patient in Malaysia to undergo the switch operation for Transposition of the Great Arteries. With a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Malaya in Malaysia, Grace has held numerous positions in database management, event planning, and empowering and running volunteer teams. Throughout 2020 she has been a valued member of the Global ARCH communications committee.

Lavinia Ndinangoye is a nurse, musician, and a rheumatic heart disease (RHD) ambassador in Namibia. At the age of 9 she was diagnosed with RHD but for many years was lost to follow up. As a person with health challenges, Lavinia developed a great passion and desire to help and serve others, especially those with health-related issues. As a musician, Lavinia recorded the RHD awareness song “GET BACK YOUR CONFIDENCE”, which was launched during a local RHD campaign. She is currently running a project called ‘RHD IS NOT A DISABILITY’ to create awareness of rheumatic fever prevention.

Mehwish Mukhtar is a radio broadcaster, teacher, social activist, motivational speaker, and blogger in Lahore, Pakistan. As the mother of a son with CHD, she is a tireless advocate for congenital heart disease patients, helping other families find proper cardiac care for their congenital heart disease children. Mehwish is a committed volunteer and someone who will bring creative and advocacy skills to the Global ARCH team.

Ruth Ngwaro is originally from Kenya but is now living in the United States. As a congenital heart disease (CHD) patient, Ruth founded the non-profit organization Kenya Mended Hearts Patient’s Association (KMHPA). Through her impressive leadership, the organization continues to successfully advocate for congenital heart disease and rheumatic heart disease rights, policy changes, and creating awareness in the community.

Bistra Zheleva, the Vice President of Global Strategy and Advocacy at Children’s HeartLink, has been welcomed back to the Global ARCH board with open arms after a brief hiatus. She is an International development expert with close to 20 years of experience in program implementation and advocacy for improved access to care for children in need of pediatric cardiac services. In her year away from the board Bistra continued to contribute her expertise to our advocacy efforts.

You can read their full bios HERE.

Global ARCH

Nahimeh Jaffar 

Nahimeh Jaffar has worked as a certified Project Manager (PMP) in various fields, including Public Health, Biotech, and Pharmaceuticals, working within clinical settings such as hospitals and clinics. In addition, she worked with global communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East, supporting various social impact projects. Ms. Jaffar has been involved in preventive health initiatives in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control (CDC, USA) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS, USA).

 

Ms. Jaffar holds an MBA in Business Development from the Swiss Institute of Higher Management, Vevey, Switzerland, and a bachelor’s degree in Consumer Affairs from California State University, Northridge, USA.

Amy Verstappen, President

Amy Verstappen has been a patient advocate and health educator since 1996, when her own challenges living with a complex heart defect led her to the Adult Congenital Heart Association, where she served as president from 2001 to 2013. She has served as an advisor to the Centers for Disease Control the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; and the International Society for Adult Congenital Cardiac Disease, and worked with congenital heart patient and professional groups throughout the USA and the world.  Ms. Verstappen received a Masters in Education in 1990 and a Masters in Global Health in 2019.