How to integrate family planning and HIV prevention into health programs

This week, Dr. Elvira will be speaking with Nithya Mani, Public Health Advisor for family planning and HIV integration at USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS. 

Nithya has worked in international public health for over twelve years focusing on HIV/AIDS and sexual reproductive health.  She has experience working on health policy and HIV/AIDS prevention programs for most at risk populations, family planning, gender, and collaborating with USG agencies.  In addition, she has nearly nine years’ experience managing and providing technical assistance to HIV/AIDS programs in the US Government, including in the Africa Bureau, Office of HIV/AIDS, USAID/Regional Development Mission Asia (RDMA), and the Office of US Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC).

Nithya started her public health career in 2001 with USAID's Africa Bureau on the HIV/AIDS team supporting OVC and multisectoral activities, then moved to the Office of HIV/AIDS where she supported USAID Missions in the launch and implementation of the President’s PMTCT Initiative.  In 2003, she was one of the first USAID staff to be seconded to OGAC to help launch PEPFAR and support implementation in the field through the interagency core teams.  She returned to the Office of HIV/AIDS in 2006 as the Asia Regional Advisor and also served as the Technical Advisor on the Policy Project and Health Systems 20/20 project.  In 2007, Nithya moved to USAID/RDMA in Bangkok as a Health Development Advisor on the HIV/AIDS team.  While in Bangkok, Nithya provided technical and programmatic support to RDMA’s policy and HIV prevention programs with a focus on RDMA’s regional and China programs. 

Nithya holds a BA in Biology from Mary Washington University and Masters in Public Health from the George Washington University with a focus on HIV prevention.