Anayda (Annie) Portela is a Scientist in the Maternal Health Unit in the Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health at the World Health Organization (WHO/MCA) in Geneva. She has worked with governmental and non-governmental organizations for over 20 years in designing and implementing programmes for Maternal-Newborn-Child Health, strengthening facility-based and community-based services. Particular areas of focus include access to care for underserved populations and woman and community participation in the design of health programmes and services. She is currently leading WHO’s evidence reviews and guidance on health promotion interventions for maternal, newborn and child health. She has managed several WHO/MCA implementation research projects, addressing the need to facilitate dialogue between policy makers, researchers, programme implementers and service users, and develop processes to support programme learning.
