Alex Coutinho

Alex Coutinho is a prominent Ugandan physician and public health expert, known for his significant contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. He has been instrumental in the development and implementation of innovative HIV prevention and treatment strategies, and has played a key role in shaping national and international HIV/AIDS policies.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Coutinho was born in Uganda. He completed his MBChB at Makerere University, one of the most prestigious universities in Africa. He later obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, furthering his expertise in the field of public health.

Career[edit | edit source]

Coutinho has held several key positions in the field of public health. He served as the Executive Director of The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), one of the largest non-governmental organizations in Uganda dedicated to providing care to people living with HIV/AIDS. Under his leadership, TASO expanded its services and reach, providing care to thousands of people across Uganda.

He also served as the Director of the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) at Makerere University, where he led efforts to improve HIV/AIDS care and treatment in Uganda and the region. His work at IDI included the development of innovative models of care, capacity building, and research.

In addition to his roles at TASO and IDI, Coutinho has served on several international advisory boards and committees, including the World Health Organization's HIV/AIDS Advisory Panel and the Global Fund's Technical Review Panel.

Contributions to HIV/AIDS[edit | edit source]

Coutinho's work has been instrumental in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Uganda and beyond. He has been a strong advocate for the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings, and has played a key role in the development and implementation of national and international policies to expand access to ART.

He has also been involved in research to develop new strategies for HIV prevention and treatment, including the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and male circumcision for HIV prevention.

Awards and Recognition[edit | edit source]

Coutinho's contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS have been widely recognized. He has received several awards, including the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for Medical Services, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the health and welfare of the African people.