Zanzibar

Omar Mwalim is the Project Manager for Fair Choices on the Path to UHC – In Times of Change (2026–2030) in Zanzibar. He is a health economist and policy researcher whose work focuses on priority setting, cost-effectiveness analysis, health financing, and institutional development for Universal Health Coverage (UHC), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. He has played a central role in the development and implementation of the Zanzibar Essential Health Care Package (ZEHCP), contributing to the design and institutionalization of structured, fair, and evidence-informed priority-setting processes. His work bridges theory and practice, translating economic and ethical frameworks into actionable policy tools embedded within government systems. Omar is actively engaged in strengthening health financing reforms in Zanzibar, including strategic health purchasing and the establishment of institutional structures for health technology assessment (HTA) and economic evaluation. His research interests include equity analysis, financial risk protection, non-communicable diseases, and the integration of analytics into routine health information systems to support evidence-based decision-making.

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Dr. Sanaa Suleiman Said is a physician, senior researcher, and academic with a PhD focused on rheumatoid arthritis. She is also a Lecturer at the State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), where she contributes to medical education, mentorship, and health research. Within Fair Choices on the Path to UHC – In Times of Change (2026–2030), Dr. Sanaa serves as both Project Coordinator and Senior Researcher. In this dual role, she provides strategic and operational leadership, ensuring that research activities, policy engagement, and institutional coordination are effectively aligned. Her work bridges clinical expertise and health systems research, supporting policy analysis, stakeholder dialogue, and the translation of rigorous evidence into practical decision-making tools. She plays a key role in strengthening research capacity, advancing structured priority-setting processes, and embedding evidence-informed approaches within Zanzibar’s health financing reforms. Dr. Sanaa is committed to promoting high-quality research, institutional sustainability, and equitable health policy development in support of Universal Health Coverage.

Dr Sauda Ismail is an Epidemiologist graduated at KCMC University and has a background in medicine. She has clinical experience as a general practitioner and has transitioned into health research, where she applies her medical expertise to strengthen evidence-based health systems. She currently works as a Researcher at the Zanzibar Health Research Institute (ZAHRI). She serves as the focal person for the FairChoices Zanzibar project, focusing on health economics and priority setting. Dr Ismail has experience in conducting health research. Her professional expertise includes research design, epidemiological analysis, data visualization and performance analytics. She is highly proficient in quantitative methods and statistical analysis using STATA.

Rashid Ramadhan Ally is a Project Officer at the Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, serving within the Department of Planning, Policy, and Research under the Division of Sectoral Development Planning. In his current role, Rashid coordinates and oversees public health projects across Zanzibar, supporting implementation processes, monitoring performance, and strengthening accountability mechanisms. His work focuses on improving project management systems, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring that health sector programs are delivered effectively and sustainably. Through his engagement in national health initiatives, he contributes to strengthening institutional planning and execution capacity within the Ministry of Health.

Ali Abdulrahman Khatoum is a project management professional working in the health sector. He currently serves as a Project Officer at the Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, where he coordinates and oversees public health projects, supports implementation processes, and monitors program performance to ensure effective and accountable delivery. Previously, Ali worked as a Project Coordinator at the Institute of Continuing and Professional Studies (ICPS) and at Simba Logistics in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, supporting the implementation of a nationwide mosquito net distribution campaign across Tanzania. He has also served as an Outreach Officer at the Tanzania Youth Alliance Organization (TAYOA), contributing to youth engagement and community-based initiatives. Ali’s professional focus is on strengthening project management systems, enhancing accountability, and contributing to sustainable health outcomes across Zanzibar.

Rauhiya M. Kheir is an Epidemiologist, Biostatistician, and Public Health Specialist with a background in Environmental Health Science and a Master of Science in Epidemiology and Applied Biostatistics. She specializes in maternal and child health, health systems strengthening, advanced health data analytics, and priority setting. She has extensive experience working with routine health information systems, particularly DHIS2, to support monitoring, evaluation, and performance improvement. Her work focuses on strengthening both individual-level and aggregate health data systems to enable evidence-based decision-making and improve service delivery outcomes at subnational and national levels. Through collaboration with FairChoices (BCEPS, University of Bergen), Rauhiya has supported the integration of DHIS2 analytics into the monitoring of the Zanzibar Essential Health Care Package (ZEHCP). Her contributions include improving data quality systems, enhancing monitoring frameworks, and translating routine health data into policy-relevant insights to inform priority setting and resource allocation. Her professional vision centers on advancing data-driven health governance and institutionalizing evidence-informed priority setting to promote efficiency, equity, and accountability in health resource allocation, contributing to progress toward Universal Health Coverage.

Ruwayda Ahmada Shaib is a Project Management Officer with expertise in planning, policy, and research. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Project Planning and Management from the Institute of Rural Development Planning, Dodoma. She currently serves as a Project Officer at the Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, within the Department of Planning, Policy, and Research under the Division of Sectoral Development Planning. In this role, she contributes to the formulation and implementation of sectoral development initiatives, ensuring effective project coordination and alignment with national health priorities. Her work supports structured planning processes, strengthens implementation oversight, and enhances institutional coherence across health sector programs.

Khadija Khamis Abass is a statistician working with the Health Management Information System (HMIS) in Zanzibar. She holds a Bachelor of Official Statistics from the Eastern Africa Statistical Training Centre (EASTC), where she also completed a Diploma and Certificate in Statistics. Her academic and practical training has focused on statistical data collection, analysis, and research. She has experience in data collection, survey implementation, and health information systems, including work with the National Bureau of Statistics and the Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS), Zanzibar. She has also undertaken practical training with the Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, particularly in DHIS2 and ZanEMR, supporting data entry, visualization, and reporting. Khadija has participated in several professional trainings and workshops related to statistics, data systems, and field research. She has also received certificates in entrepreneurship and leadership skills and fieldwork in official statistics. She is proficient in Microsoft Office and statistical programs, and is known for her teamwork, accountability, and commitment to continuous learning. She is fluent in Swahili and English.