Sheila Tamara Shawa (Ph.D.) is a Senior Program Officer at the Africa Union Commission in the department of Social Affairs under the AIDS, TB, Malaria and Other infectious diseases (ATM & OIDs) division. She is the focal person for TB, NTDs and the CHWs workers initiative. Dr Shawa possesses expertise in diseases control programs with over 10 years extensive experience in public health, policy formulation & advocacy, and preparedness to epidemics. Dr Shawa was instrumental in the establishment of the Africa CDC as senior project officer where she was responsible for coordinating activities in the regional collaborating centres including in Central, Eastern and Southern Africa and technical activities at HQ. Dr Shawa coordinated the development of 5 year Strategic Plan of the Africa CDC.