About AHO

How we began, History of AHO

Africa Health Organisation (AHO) was founded in 1999 in Harare, Zimbabwe, by Graciano Masauso, following dialysis in Harare from 1997 to 1999 and his kidney transplant in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1999.

Graciano’s personal experience of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Hypertensive Renal Disease, Kidney Failure, Diabetes Type II, Diabetic Retinopathy, Peripheral Neuropathy, Heart Diseases (AF, LVH, HHD, CAD and Angina), Addison’s Disease, Adrenal Insufficiency, Adrenal Crisis, Mental Illness, shortage of dialysis and the painful journey to kidney transplant inspired him to set up an organisation that would meet the needs of ordinary people.

While on dialysis, Graciano realised that health was a privilege of the rich and a doom for the poor, as many people who could not afford dialysis died without help and support. Graciano used to watch children collapsing and dying due to a lack of pediatric specialists’ dialysis services. Patients travel from Zambia to come to Zimbabwe for dialysis and die on the 600km journey.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), which was based in Harare at the hospital where he was receiving dialysis, could not help him. Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo, AHO Afro Regional Director, said WHO does not help individuals but provides technical support to governments to strengthen their capacity to deliver health services.

Even for his kidney transplant, Graciano received generous donations from primary and secondary school children, universities, individuals, and companies in Zimbabwe and legacy donations from the UK, US, and the EU to raise the $100,000 needed to travel to South Africa, as there were no transplant facilities in Zimbabwe.

History stages

1996 – Graciano Masauso diagnosed with Kidney Failure and starts dialysis in Harare, Zimbabwe

1999 – Graciano underwent a kidney transplant at Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa

1999 – Graciano presented the proposal at the University of Zimbabwe Medical School

2000 – Presentation of proposal at Garden City Hospital in South Africa

2000 – Presentations in Hanover, Bonn, Hamburg, Munster and Berlin in German

2001 – Graciano moved to Wimbledon, Canterbury, Islington and Norwich, UK

2005 – AFREKID was founded in the UK to be the forerunner of AHO

2009 – AHO registered in England and Scotland as subsidiaries

2016 – AHO registered as an international health agency in the UK

2020 – AHO registered in Zambia as an international health agency

2021 – AHO registered in Zimbabwe as an international health agency

Governing Bodies

Health Congress

The Health Congress is the supreme governing authority of the Organisation and meets every five years to determine its general policies. The Congress also serves as a forum for the interchange of information and ideas relating to the prevention of disease; the preservation, promotion and restoration of mental and physical health; and the advancement of socio-medical measures and facilities for the prevention and treatment of physical and mental diseases in Africa.

Health Council

The Council meets once a year in those years when the Health Congress does not meet. It acts on behalf of the Congress between sessions of the Congress

Executive Board

The Executive Board comprises nine members from different states who are elected by Congress or the Council for overlapping three-year terms. The Board meets twice a year and acts as a working party of the Congress or Council. Special meetings are convoked by the Director of the Bureau either on his/her initiative or upon request of at least three Members. The Board has an auxiliary advisory body, the Subcommittee on Programme, Budget, and Administration.

Sub Committee

The Subcommittee on Programme, Budget and Administration is an auxiliary advisory body of the Executive Board responsible for Programme, Budget and Administration aspects. It reviews and as appropriate, makes recommendations to the Executive Board in these areas. The Subcommittee consists of seven Members, four of whom have terms of office running concurrently with those of their membership on the Executive Board and three designated annually by the Director of the Bureau in consultation with the Director of the Executive Board to seek balanced and adequate geographical distribution. The Subcommittee holds at least one public session a year on dates to be decided by the Executive Committee.

AHO People

AHO People comprises the Patron, Goodwill Ambassadors, Board of Trustees, Staff and Volunteers:

Patron

Patrons are normally well-known and respected, such as celebrities and royals. They can, therefore, help lend credibility to the organisation or help you get noticed through the media.

Global Goodwill Ambassadors and Advocates

A Global Goodwill Ambassador is a person who advocates for a specific cause of AHO based on their notability. Goodwill ambassadors generally deliver goodwill or promote ideals from AHO to others or a population.

Board of Directors and Trustees

A board of directors or trustees is an appointed or elected group of individuals responsible for an organisation’s management. It is the organisation’s governing body and seeks to ensure the best interests of stakeholders in all management decisions.

The Team: Staff and Volunteers – Interns and Trainees

The AHO CEO and Director runs the organisation, developing a vision and strategic plan to guide it. AHO staff support the director, and the profiles below aim to give you an insight into how the organisation works, day by day, to improve the lives of people in Africa. Volunteers are central to AHO’s work. They deliver over 70% of AHO on the ground, directly to the community. Without volunteers, AHO will not be able to carry out its work.

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