Biography

Eddie Mhlanga is Chief and Provincial Specialist, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Department of Health, Mpumalanga. He is a Fellow of the W K Kellogg International Leadership Program (1) and was involved in Community Based Health Programming, especially in the Distance Education Programme for Advanced Midwifery and Neonatal Nursing Science (DEPAM). He is a graduate of the University of Natal (MB, ChB; Diploma in Maternal and Child Health), Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (Fellow of the College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists) and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill (MPH – Maternal and Child Health). Eddie is a recipient of the Sidney S Chipman Award of the School of Public Health, UNC – Chapel Hill (2009) for his contribution to Maternal and Child Health. He served as deacon at the Barbee’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Chapel Hill, NC. He is the founding National Director and Chief Director: Maternal, Child and Women’s Health in South Africa. He was co-Chair: National Programme of Action for Children (South Africa) and represented the country on various international bodies. He is a retired Professor and Head: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban. He is an external examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Medicine and related fields in Southern Africa. Eddie serves on disciplinary committees and panels of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). He has served as consultant to various organisations in the fields of development, gender, women’s and children’s health and rights including sexual and reproductive health and rights. These include W K Kellogg Foundation, Ipas, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, IPPF, FIGO, IPPF, MSF and UNESCO locally and internationally. He recently (till 2017) served as a member of the Gender and Health Advisory Panel for the World Health Organisation. He is an advocate for youth and community development including health and human rights and has assisted various countries in their maternal, child and women’s health planning. He is married to Lindiwe Ntombizethu MaNtuli. They have two daughters – Tsundzukani and Gugulethu. He is a motivational speaker in public health.