Folake Olayinka

Immunization Team Lead (JSI)

Dr. Olayinka comes to MCSP with 20 years’ experience in clinical and public health practice, with expertise in immunization, maternal and child health, HIV/AIDS and malaria. She brings a deep understanding of operationalizing immunization systems strengthening within a primary health care platform, and has a well-rounded perspective on integrated reproductive health, maternal, newborn and child health programs.

Prior to becoming Immunization Team leader, Folake joined MCSP as a Senior Technical Immunization Advisor. She brings a unique combination of management and technical leadership experience, including as Program Director for UKaid’s largest malaria program in Africa—the Support to National Malaria Program (SuNMaP)—and as a senior technical immunization advisor on USAID’s BASICS 2 and COMPASS projects.

In Nigeria, Dr. Olayinka served as Deputy Chief of Party/Technical Director for USAID’s IMMMUNIZATIONbasics project and as Maternal Child Health Program Manager with USAID/Nigeria, where she was awarded the prestigious Eagle award by the US Mission. From 2010-2013, she was an inaugural member of the World Health Organization Immunization Practice Advisory Committee.

Dr. Olayinka has a medical degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, and an MPH from Loma Linda University in California. She is an Aspen Fellow and the cofounder of Bijoux, an NGO focused on sexual reproductive health, maternal and child health and HIV/AIDS. She speaks fluent French.