Seattle, USA (November 25, 2025) – VillageReach today announces a new leadership role and two important additions to its global Board of Directors. Dr. Norah Obudho, who joined the Board in 2023, has been appointed as Board Vice Chair. Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck and Mr. Cheikh Oumar Seydi join the VillageReach Board as new members.
The combination of Dr. Obudho’s in-country program and leadership development experience, Professor Coll Seck’s clinical and policy leadership in infectious diseases, and Cheikh Seydi’s deep development finance expertise will help VillageReach accelerate efforts to support African governments in building responsive, resilient primary health care systems.
These appointments strengthen the Board’s strategic and technical capacity as VillageReach works with governments, partners and communities to achieve its 2030 impact goals.
Dr. Norah Obudho, MD, MPH, PMD (Kenya) – Board Vice Chair
Dr. Obudho is a clinician and public health specialist with 18+ years of experience leading programs across HIV, MNCH, sexual and reproductive health, leadership development and health systems strengthening. She holds a medical degree from the University of Nairobi and an MPH from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She joined the VillageReach Board in October 2023.
Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck, MD, PhD (Senegal) – Board Member
Professor Coll Seck is a physician and infectious disease expert who has served twice as Senegal’s Minister of Health and in senior roles at UNAIDS and Roll Back Malaria. She has authored more than 150 scientific publications and has been recognized internationally for her lifetime contributions to global health, including receiving the WHO Director-General’s Award for Global Health in May 2025. She now chairs Galien Africa.
Mr. Cheikh Oumar Seydi (Senegal) – Board Member
Mr. Seydi brings more than three decades of investment and advisory experience across health, infrastructure, financial services and other sectors. His leadership roles have included serving as Africa Director at the Gates Foundation and as Regional Director, Sub-Saharan Africa and Global Director of Human Resources at the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC). He joined the VillageReach Board in September 2024.
Of the appointments, Dr. Ahmed Ogwell, VillageReach CEO & President, said: “Having leaders with deep scientific, policy and finance experience at the board level strengthens VillageReach’s ability to support governments and partners as we expand access to primary health care.
“Norah, Awa and Oumar each bring complementary expertise — from infectious disease leadership and policy to country- and regional-level public health program experience and decades of development finance — that will be invaluable as we pursue our 2030 goals.”
Incoming Board Vice Chair, Dr. Norah Obudho, added: “I am honored to serve as Board Vice Chair. VillageReach’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with governments and communities is what makes its impact so meaningful. I look forward to helping guide the organization as it scales solutions that strengthen primary care systems and improve health outcomes across Africa.”
Learn more about Our Team.
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About VillageReach
VillageReach works with governments, the private sector, partners and communities to build responsive primary health care systems that deliver health products and services to the most under-reached. As a locally driven and globally connected organization working across Africa, VillageReach’s primary goal is to reduce inequities in access to quality primary health care in health systems reaching 350 million people by 2030.
For more information, please visit our website: http://www.villagereach.org