Martha Newsome

Martha Holley Newsome is responsible for World Vision International’s Sustainable Health group, which addresses three critical needs for children: food and nutrition, health, and WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene). Ms. Newsome has a Masters of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and a BA from Wheaton College in Illinois. She is a mHealth advocate and champions the use of digital technology, having served on the mHealth Alliance board for three years and currently serving on the mPowering Frontline Health Workers steering committee. Ms. Newsome led the Global Health and HIV/AIDS Hope Initiative and was responsible for World Vision’s HIV&AIDS Initiative in Africa. From 1997 to 2003, she served as World Vision’s country director and health director in Mozambique. Prior to moving to Mozambique, she worked as a child survival/primary health care manager with WVUS and for a USAID funded cooperative agreement with Wellstart International, supporting nutrition and the global promotion of breastfeeding for nearly five years. With Wellstart, Ms. Newsome supported national breastfeeding programmes in Asia, Africa and the former Soviet states. She has authored several publications related to community health workers and breastfeeding and has lived in South Africa, Mozambique, Mali, and Cameroon.