Heiko Decosas — hera - right to health and development

Heiko Decosas, MA Communications

Heiko has a Master of Communications from Simon Fraser University and over 10 years of experience working in the field of public health communication and knowledge translation.

He has extensive communications project management experience.
In his work, he has specifically focused on HIV and AIDS, behaviour change communication, knowledge translation and communication for development.
He has substantial experience in journalism (print, video, radio), graphic design, storytelling and interactive media.
He further has an academic background in communication for development, risk communication and information communication technology for development.
Heiko began working with hera as a consultant in 2015.
Prior to joining hera Heiko worked for the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network as a Communications and Knowledge Translation Officer, the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition as Communications manager, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a radio producer and for the Simon Fraser University Office of International Development in Ghana as a Communications Officer.

The 2nd Milestone Scorecard presents an important roadmap for future action. The insights provided in this data collection round show what’s working and provides crucial insights for shaping policies and health strategies, guiding us towards a future where sexual and reproductive health rights and services are accessible and upheld for all

Assessing and strengthening community health systems in the Middle East and North Africa region

hera's experts assess community health systems in the Middle East and North Africa for UNICEF. This project aims to improve healthcare access in a region facing conflict and strengthen its response to health threats.

Advancing Equitable COVID-19 Vaccination in Humanitarian Crisis

The World Health Organization (WHO), taking the lead in responding to this pressing issue, selected hera to conduct a study on the complexities of COVID-19 vaccine deployment and administration in humanitarian settings, with a specific focus on populations of concern (PoC). The study was initiated in March 2022 and concluded in March 2023, and encompassed case studies in multiple countries deeply affected by humanitarian crises: Cox's Bazar (Bangladesh), Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Iraq, South Sudan, and Syria.

Fact sheet on the Maternal Health of Women and Girls of African Descent in the Americas

This fact sheet was developed by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with the support of a hera team that included Adria Armbrister, Marianne Eelens, and Alejandra Martinez.

The Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) scorecard of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

The SRHR SADC Scorecard is a high-level peer review accountability tool to track progress of the Region in achieving the SADC Regional Strategy for SRHR 2019-2030 and the SRHR targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. It consists of 20 key indicators to track progress in meeting the 10 outcomes of the strategy. Member States are to report every two years on progress made against the SADC Scorecard.

Review of the implementation of recommendations from thematic evaluations of a strategic/global nature

This review of the implementation of recommendations from global evaluations aims to promote the use of evaluation evidence for learning and accountability purposes and highlights areas for action where WFP can maximize the achievement of its mission.

Developing a monitoring framework for Universal Health Coverage in the WHO African Region

In 2015 hera was contracted by the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) to provide an assessment of the status of UHC determinants including the status of progress on the 2008 Ouagadougou and Algiers Declarations.

Universal Health Coverage for Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Asia-Pacific Region

The study of universal health coverage for sexual and reproductive health in the Asia-Pacific Region was undertaken by hera under contract by the United Nations Population Fund Asia and Pacific Regional Office.

SADC Feasibility Study on Regional Manufacturing of Medicines and Health Commodities

Assess the feasibility of the local production of essential medicines especially those related to the three communicable diseases, namely HIV and AIDS, TB and Malaria as well as the production of health commodities for the three diseases.

Heiko Decosas, MA Communications

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