Directors Resume
Dr Shastra Bhoora
Dr Bhoora is a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist with a sub-speciality in critical care. She currently heads the obstetrics critical care unit at Charlottle Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. She is affiliated with Baylor College in Texas as an Adjunct professor in maternal critical care.
Dr Bhoora’s interests involve the acute management of obstetrics, gynaecology and trauma emergencies. She is a master trainer in ESMOE and is passionate about teaching and empowering young minds to advocate for impeccable maternal health care.
Dr Bhoora has been invited on two occasions by the College of Medicine, University of Arizona, to debrief at the annual Obstetrics Acute and Critical Care simulation workshops. She strives to create such courses locally.
Dr Bhoora is very excited to be a member of the ESMOE Technical Team and looks forward to promoting best outcomes for pregnant mothers and their babies.
Dr David Bishop
David Bishop is a specialist anaesthesiologist and currently working as the District Clinical Specialist for uMgungundlovu District, in KwaZulu-Natal. He is also an Associate Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His main research interests are obstetric anaesthesia, burns anaesthesia and perioperative outcomes in resource-limited settings. He is an NCCEMD provincial assessor and is the immediate past president of OASIS (Obstetric Anaesthesia Special Interest Society). His doctoral thesis (attained in 2018) was focussed on pragmatic approaches to obstetric spinal hypotension in a resource limited setting. He is also currently establishing an online district anaesthesia education program.
Dr Jonathan Burke
Specialist Anaesthesiologist
Head Clinical Unit, Anaesthesia Services: Metro East
Department of Health Western Cape Government
Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care
Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University
Dr Sue Fawcus
Sue Fawcus MB.BCH.MA (OXON). FRCOG is a Senior Research scholar and Emeritus Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cape Town. She has been a member of the National Committee for Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths, South Africa, since 2004, with the responsibility of analyzing all deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage, including deaths from bleeding associated with caesarean section. In addition, she has written national protocols and ESMOE modules on Obstetric Haemorrhage, Caesarean section and Respectful Maternity care. She is involved in several research projects on postpartum haemorrhage
Prof Ute Feucht
Professor Ute Feucht is a Paediatrician in the Tshwane District Clinical Specialist Team of the Gauteng Department of Health. She additionally holds a joint appointment with the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Pretoria. She is the director of the University of Pretoria’s Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, which works in close collaboration with the SAMRC Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Research Unit. She has extensive experience in Child Health and obtained her Ph.D. degree from the University of Stellenbosch focusing on practical implementation issues of the then newly implemented Paediatric HIV- and antiretroviral treatment programme in South Africa. Her additional interests include improving neonatal outcomes at primary care level, childhood growth as well as the development of data systems to improve cohort monitoring of mother-infant dyad
Prof. Stefan Gebhardt
I am an associate professor and specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology based at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, where I am also the head of the General Specialist O&G services at Tygerberg and in the Metro East health district of Cape Town. My research interests are genetic aspects of early pregnancy disease (mainly pre-eclampsia, intra-uterine growth restriction and preterm labour), clinical governance in maternity services and health systems planning. I have a close working relationship with the Western Cape Department of Health as the obstetric chairperson of the provincial Clinical Governance Committee for Obstetrics. Within the provincial and national Maternal and Women’s Health programmes directorate I play an active role in policy and guideline development for programmes involved in termination of pregnancy, sterilisation services, antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care and confidential enquiries into maternal and perinatal deaths. I have participated in the development of the national maternity case record, the national maternity care guideline policy, wrote chapters for the national Saving Mothers report and serves on the provincial Committee for Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD). I serve on two ministerial advisory committees- the National Perinatal Mortality and Morbidity Committee (NaPeMMCo, which I chaired 2018-2020) and the Essential Drug List/Standard Treatment Guidelines. Recent international collaboration was with the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement and with the Royal College of O&G in London, where I participated in the development of Best Practice Papers as part of the Leading Safe Choices collaboration and was also the programme lead for South Africa. I am an associate member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and a member of the South African Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Dr. Tsakane Hlongwane
Specialist Obstetrician and gynaecologist from the University of Pretoria (UP).
She is an aspiring clinician scientist, working at Steve Biko Academic hospital and SAMRC-UP Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit. She has a special interest in maternal and perinatal health, and improving health systems.
Her current work focuses on improving the antenatal experience of care and preventing stillbirths
Shaun Govender
- Shaun Govender is a lecturer and a member of the Senate at the College of Emergency Care in KwaZulu-Natal. He is an Advanced Life Support practitioner whose research into the emergency transport of pregnant women in KwaZulu-Natal earned him a Master’s Degree in Emergency Medical Care.
His continued interest in improving the emergency transport and care of pregnant women led to his role in the following areas: - Development of the ESMOE in Transit EMS programme
- Master trainer (ESMOE for EMS)
- National Committee for EMS – Workgroup in respect of the EMS Strategy for the Reduction of Child and Maternal Mortality
- Development of the obstetric policies, procedures and training
Prof. Mfundo Mabenge
Mfundo Mabenge is the Clinical Head of Department of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Walter Sisulu University, Port Elizabeth training platform. He is an ESMOE Master trainer. He holds a BSC degree from UWC, an MBChB from Medunsa which he obtained in 1995 with a distinction in Pediatrics and General surgery. In 1998 he graduated a Diploma in Obstetrics with the College of Medicine of South Africa. He has a diploma in practical labour law from NMMU.In April 2007 he graduated his specialist degree (Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynecology -FCOG) with the College of Medicine of South Africa and a Master of Medicine(MMed) specializing in Obstetrics & Gynecology with the University of Pretoria. He did a Master of Arts in Health and Welfare Management (MA HWM) at NMU. He also holds a Master of Laws (LLM) labour law from the same university. He trained as a super specialist in Gynae Oncology with the University of Pretoria and finished his subspecialty Training (Certificate in Gynae Oncology) from the College of Medicine of South Africa and qualified as a Gynae Oncologist in October 2016. He also did a Master of Philosophy (Gynae Oncology) at the University of Pretoria. In March 2018 He graduated a Graduate Certificate in Theology with the Adventist International Institute of Advanced studies (AIIAS) in Philippines. He was appointed a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in January 2016 by Walter Sisulu University. He is one of the Editors of the obstetrics and Gynecology journals called the O & G Forum. He is involved in training of Registrars and Gynecological Oncology Fellows. He is Very passionate about women health issues
Dr Manala Makua
POSITION: Chief Director Women, Maternal and Reproductive Health
I am responsible for the development of policies and monitoring of implementation at the national level. The area of focus is mainly the women’s health which includes but not limited to women’s reproductive cancers, fertility planning and safe conceptions, contraceptive services, terminations of pregnancies, human genetics, maternal health, neonatal health and PMTCT.
My passion is to ensure the safe, feasible and equitable access to care irrespective of your diagnosis, background and place of origin.
Prof Peter Macdonald
Dr Neil Moran
BM BCh, MA, FCOG (SA)
Head of Clinical Department: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
KZN Department of Health
Honorary Lecturer,
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal
National Committee for Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths
Dr. Dakalo Muavha
(Certified Urogynaecologist)
Senior Lecture and Head of Urogynaecology Unit in University of Limpopo
Head of Clinical Unit in O&G Pietersberg Hospital
Chairperson of Limpopo Obstetric Response Team( LORT)
IUGA Education Committee member
SAUGA BOARD MEMBER
Polokwane/Mankweng hospital complex Research Ethics Committee (PMREC) member
Qualifications: MBChB/DipObs/FCOG/Mmed/Urogynaecology cert./Diploma in Endoscopy
Prof. Zozo Nene
Qualifications: BSc (University of Cincinnati, USA), MBChB (Medunsa), Dip Pall Med (UCT), DOH&M (UP), MMed O&G (UP), FCOG(SA), Cert Reproductive Medicine (SA)
Prof Zozo Nene is a Reproductive Medicine Sub-Specialist and an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist. She is Head of the Reproductive & Endocrine unit at Steve Biko Academic Hospital and the University of Pretoria. She has qualifications from the College of Medicine of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FCOG and Cert in Reprod Medicine) and a MMed in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of Pretoria (UP). She presently chairs the Reproductive Medicine Subspecialist Committee at the College of Medicine of South Africa.
She is a South African representative of WHO-FIGO collaboration on contraception and has given presentations on behalf of the WHO in that capacity. She participated in the WHO and Partners Stakeholders’ Technical Consultation meeting on Hormonal contraception and HIV and various other WHO Stakeholders’ meetings. She is part of the National Department of Health’s technical expert advisory team on contraception and infertility. She is one of the scientific experts on the SRHR Curriculum development of the National Department of Health. She is lead author of the National Clinical Guidelines for Safe Conception and Infertility. She is part of the guideline development group for the National Clinical Guidelines for Implementation of the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy act and the updated National Contraceptive Clinical Guidelines. She has given presentations at congresses both locally and internationally.
Dr Sarie Oosthuizen
Dr Sarie Oosthuizen is a family physician at the University of Pretoria’s Research Centre for Maternal, Fetal, Newborn and Child Health Care Strategies, University of Pretoria and at the Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, SA MRC. She holds an honorary appointment at Tshwane District Health Services, where she was team leader of the District Clinical Specialist Team until May 2020. Dr Oosthuizen assists with quality improvement projects and further implementation of CLEVER Maternity Care in district healthcare facilities.
Prof Priya Soma Pillay
Professor Priya Soma-Pillay is the Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital. President of the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of South Africa, and Honorary secretary of the South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Member of FIGO Executive Board
Prof Sithembiso Velaphi
Sithembiso Velaphi is a neonatologist, an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Paediatrics at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, which is one of hospitals affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand. He serves in the committee that organises annual national conferences on Priorities in Perinatal Care in South Africa. He also serves in one of the Ministerial committees called National Perinatal Morbidity and Mortality Committee (NaPeMMCo) which has been tasked to audit perinatal and neonatal deaths in South Africa. He is a member of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), which reviews literature on evidence on resuscitation and produces international guidelines on neonatal resuscitation.
Dr. Valerie Vannevel
Dr. Vannevel studied medicine at Catholic University Leuven, Belgium and subsequently started obstetrics & gynecology specialization through the Catholic University Leuven. She trained for 4 years in Belgium and spent the last year at Kalafong Hospital, Pretoria, resulting in her graduating and obtaining her MMed in September 2016. She started working for SAMRC in November 2016 as a researcher and as an obstetrician in Kalafong Hospital. Her clinical interests lie in maternal and fetal medicine (ultrasound, recurrent pregnancy loss). Her current research work is on Umbiflow International study and Intrapartum Care. She is focused on improving pregnancy outcomes and improving childbirth for pregnant women in low and middle-income countries.