International Network on Health and Hepatitis in Substance Users

Dr. Joel Steingo developed an interest in HIV and TB as a major public health threat to South Africa whilst working as a young medical doctor in the rural Eastern Cape. Frustrated by health systems deficiencies, he decided to study for a Masters (MPH) at Johns Hopkins University where he focused on issues related to global health, infectious disease epidemiology, and health programme design and implementation in under-resourced settings.

For the past 15 years, Joel has worked in the fields of primary HIV care and prevention, operational and clinical research, and HIV programme management. He joined TB HIV Care in March 2020 when he took on the role of Programme Director for our Correctional Services Programme. Today, Joel oversees the planning, monitoring, analysis and assessment of all our research projects, using SI to design and develop our programmes for maximum reach, engagement and success.

Mfezi is TB HIV Care’s Key Populations Programme Director and leads the strategic direction for providing a comprehensive HIV prevention package of services to sex workers and people who inject drugs (PWID) across different provinces in the country.

Mfezi has more than ten years of experience in programme coordination within the HIV/AIDS field and has worked with both the South African Police Service and orphaned and vulnerable children.

Mfezi has a BA in Social Work and Diploma in HIV Management. He joined TB HIV Care in 2014 as the Sex Worker Project Coordinator in Nelson Mandela Bay. He was promoted to Site Manager in the HIV Prevention Programme, where he focused on comprehensive HIV prevention, care and support to sex workers and people who use drugs (PWUD). He also led and implemented research projects focusing on female sex workers operating in Nelson Mandela Bay.