Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC)
The Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC) provides independent advice to the WHO global secretariat to support countries’ efforts toward elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) or Path to Elimination of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
Mission
The GVAC provides advice to WHO regarding validation standards, processes and assessment tools.
The GVAC reviews validation reports from the Regional Validation Committee to ensure consistency and compliance with the minimum global criteria. It provides independent advice to WHO regarding validation of candidate countries for EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
If needed, the GVAC also provides recommendations to countries to support ongoing monitoring and maintenance of validation.
Current membership
The GVAC is a multidisciplinary team, comprising members with a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience relevant to EMTCT of HIV and/or syphilis and/or hepatitis B. Members serve a 3-year term, with the option to extend. When recruiting for an additional committee member, WHO will conduct a public call for experts on its website.
Call for experts
Meet the GVAC members
Chair
Dr
Angela
Mushavi
National PMTCT and Pediatric HIV Care and Treatment Coordinator, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Zimbabwe
Dr Angela Mushavi leads the work on elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Zimbabwe and is the current chair of the WHO Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC).
Learn moreCo-chair
Dr
Annette
Sohn
Director of TREAT Asia and Vice President of amfAR
Dr Annette Sohn is the Director of TREAT Asia and a Vice President of amfAR – The Foundation for AIDS Research. She is the current co-chair of the WHO Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC).
Learn moreMembers
Dr Monique Andersson
Consultant in Clinical Infection
Dr Shabbir Ismail Argaw
Senior Director of Strategic Information and Evaluation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Professor Benjamin Cowie
Department of Infectious Diseases, Melbourne Medical School
Ms Nyasha Chingore-Munazvo
Independent Consultant (Health, Human Rights and Gender)
Dr Sandra Dudareva
Co-lead for Viral Hepatitis, The Robert Koch Institute
Professor Sarah Hawkes
Professor of Global Health, Institute for Global Health, University College London
Dr Robert McDonald
Medical epidemiologist in the Division of STD Prevention at the National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, CDC
Professor Quazi Monirul Islam
Faculty of Medicine, Prince Songkla University, Thailand
Dr Michele Montandon
Maternal Infant HIV Team Lead
Dr Lori Newman
Medical Officer in the Enteric and Sexually Transmitted Infections Branch, US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Professor Nataliya Nizova
Consultant, Public Health Center of The Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Dr Genesis Samonte
Dr Nathan Shaffer
Independent consultant
Ms Ntombifuthi Precious Shongwe
Acting National Coordinator, Swaziland National Network of Young Positives (SNYP+)
Ms Olena Stryzhak
Lead, Positive Women in Ukraine
Dr Melanie Taylor
Medical Epidemiologist in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Dr Rania Tohme
Associate Director for Global Health, Division of Viral Hepatitis, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Ms Fatima Tsiouris
Senior Director for Catalytic Initiatives and Program Optimization
Ms Valerie Wilson
Director, Caribbean Med Labs Foundation
Dr Clement Zeh
Team Lead for HIV Viral Load and Early Infant Diagnosis, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ms Deborah von Zinkernagel
Co-Director, STRIPE (Strengthening Interprofessional Education) for HIV
Dr Su Wang
Senior Advisor for Global Health for the Hepatitis B Foundation
Related tools and strategies
15 June 2020
Governance guidance for the validation of elimination of mother-to-child transmission...
An overview of validation structures and responsibilities at national, regional and global levels
4 August 2022
Global guidance on criteria and processes for validation: elimination of mother-to-child...
This document, the third version, adds on EMTCT of hepatitis B virus (HBV), bringing together a package of interventions and metrics to support integrated...
Related information on EMTCT
