Gugu Maphalala

She holds a master’s degree in Medical Virology. She is currently overseeing the National Blood Transfusion Services. She has Participated and conducted several Laboratory researches studies and project for the Ministry of Health either as a Principal Investigator or a co-Investigator as well as routinely conduct surveillance activities new vaccine preventable diseases supported by the World Health Organization. As a Principal Laboratory technologist, she has been overseeing the National HIV Reference Molecular Laboratory and National TB Reference Laboratory conducting specialized molecular testing. She has been involved in setting up and leading the implementation of measles, Rubella and Rotavirus surveillance and provided technical leadership in the implementation of population-based HIV incidence measurement, HIV drug resistance studies. She has also led the validation and subsequent introduction of Dried blood spot (DBS) viral load testing on Roche Cobas platforms that has enable increased access of viral load testing services for children and HIV patients in peripheral sites. She has few publications where she was the lead author in and presented in many research forums both in-country and globally representing MoH.