Healthcare Professionals
Bernard Okongo, MD
Chief of Medicine, Africa
Bernard Okongo Bukare, MD is Chief of Medicine for AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Africa. As Chief of Medicine, Dr. Bukare is responsible for opening new clinics, improving patient flow and helping implement measurement and evaluation tools.
An infectious disease physician for more than 12 years with a specialization in HIV/AIDS therapy treatment and care, Dr. Okongo built AHF’s Uganda Cares Program, which now operates 12 healthcare centers providing antiretroviral (ART) treatment and care services to more than 32,000 Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS. Dr. Okongo designed and developed AHF’s model for ART care in Uganda, which has been successfully replicated in other African and Asian countries. He also played an integral role in the development of AHF’s HIV Medic Training program, recognized by the World Health Organization as an effective task shifting intervention.
Previously, Dr. Okongo served as Eastern and Western Africa Bureau Chief and Medical Director at AHF and as Medical Officer at Lufuka and Safe Guard nursing homes and at Kyamulibwa Health Centre. He was also a Medical Representative for Bristol Myers Squibb Company from 1998-2003.
Dr. Okongo received his medical degree and Bachelor of Surgery from Makerere University in Kampala in 1995 and completed his internship at Mulago Hospital in Kampala in 1996. He received a diploma in Project Planning and Management from the Project Planning and Management Trust, Kampala in 1997 and a Certificate for the Executive Program on Corporate Management for Africa, Tokyo and Osaka, Japan in 2000.
Dr. Okongo is currently designing a research study to determine the safety and efficacy of Atripla use in Uganda and other resource-constrained settings. He has authored numerous reports and papers and has actively attended workshops, training sessions and conferences in the U.S., Amsterdam and throughout Africa since 1994. He is fluent in Kiswahili, Luo, Luganda and English.
