about orlat
The Oral-Lung Axis Trust is an independent nonprofit aiming to improve the quality of life for all Zimbabweans by promoting public health initiatives and projects that address challenges faced in oral and pulmonary health.
ORLAT is primarily focused on capacity building in the healthcare sector and conducting evidence-based research.
ORLAT is primarily focused on capacity building in the healthcare sector and conducting evidence-based research.
in this section
Rationale
In the absence of precedent, we undertook this innovative work to address the underfunded and prioritized burden of NCDs, despite the lack of support structures outside of existing CD funding.
Our Vision
Towards efficient and effective African health systems for oral and pulmonary healthcare
Our Mission
Advancing public health in oral and pulmonary domains through impactful research, capacity enhancement, and effective knowledge dissemination.
Focus Areas
Marginalized Groups
Aiming to close the oral health inequality gap
Health Workforce Development
Enhancing skills of the health workforce through research and capacity building.
Knowledge Generation
Producing policy briefs and advice for government programming.
Sustainable Funding
Securing long-term funding for oral and pulmonary health initiatives.
The Team
Cleopatra Matanhire-Zihanzu BDS, MBA, MSc
Cleopatra is the Director of the Oral Lung Axis Trust, and a Faculty Member at the Department of Oral Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe.
She is an oral health advocate with an emphasis on Research, Education and Policy Formulation. She served in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Oral health services Department, Zimbabwe, gaining exposure in primary, secondary and tertiary oral healthcare service delivery, coordinating National Dental Surgery Assistants Training, dental missions, culminating with her being Practitioner in Charge at the School of Dental Therapy and Technology.
Cleopatra holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Zimbabwe; a master’s in business administration from the National University of Science and Technology; and a Master of Science in Global Health from the University of Glasgow. She is also a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, who was in the Civic Leadership Track at Kansas State University (USA) and a Beit-Glasgow Scholar 2020-2021.
She is an oral health advocate with an emphasis on Research, Education and Policy Formulation. She served in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Oral health services Department, Zimbabwe, gaining exposure in primary, secondary and tertiary oral healthcare service delivery, coordinating National Dental Surgery Assistants Training, dental missions, culminating with her being Practitioner in Charge at the School of Dental Therapy and Technology.
Cleopatra holds a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Zimbabwe; a master’s in business administration from the National University of Science and Technology; and a Master of Science in Global Health from the University of Glasgow. She is also a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow, who was in the Civic Leadership Track at Kansas State University (USA) and a Beit-Glasgow Scholar 2020-2021.
Kudzai Machingauta MBCHB, MPH, Msc RM
Dr Kudzai Machingauta holds a Master of Public Health degree from Africa University, Master of Science in Respiratory Medicine from the University of South Wales and Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from the University of Zimbabwe. She is also a diplomat of Anaesthesia with the College of Medicine South Africa. Between 2015-2018, Kudzai worked for the Ministry of Health and Childcare as a medical officer with two of those years spent in the Anesthesia department. Thereafter, her work focused more on public health as she joined Mutare City Council as a Curative Services Manager in 2018 and later as an Acting Director of Health in 2021. Her work has been centered around respiratory disease and mental health programming. Kudzai is currently the Technical Lead Integration of Covid-19 and mental health into HIV care and treatment for Organization of Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID). She is one of the visionaries of the Oral Health for Mental Health Patients project and Oral Lung Axis Trust (ORLAT).
Timothy Chifamba DMD, MPH
Dr Timothy Chifamba holds a Master of Public Health degree from the Adventist University of Africa (Nairobi, Kenya), and a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Adventist University of the Philippines. His career has focused on non-communicable diseases, socio-behavioral health and health services research. From 2022-2023, he worked as a lecturer for the University of Zimbabwe Faculty of Medicine and Health Science teaching Dentistry students’ restorative dentistry and community dentistry. From 2019-2023, he worked for the Ministry of Health and Childcare as a dental officer. His work has involved providing oral and maxillofacial care to patients, conducting oral health outreach, lecturing dental students, and engaging in relevant research. Timothy is currently the Oral Health Coordinator for SolidarMed Zimbabwe. He was one of the visionaries of the Oral Health for Mental Health Patients project and Oral Lung Axis Trust (ORLAT) and has served as the Lead Researcher
Cleopatra Matanhire-Zihanzu
BDS, MBA, MSc
drcleo@orlat.org
Kudzai Machingauta
MBCHB, MPH, Msc RM
drkudzi@orlat.org
Timothy Chifamba
DMD, MPH
timchifamba@orlat.org