If you’ve ever submitted a quotation request through the NCDconnect platform or reached out with a question about your order, chances are you’ve interacted with Andrea. With a wealth of experience across global health programmes and a deep personal commitment to healthcare access, Andrea is one of the key people working behind the scenes to ensure you receive timely, quality-assured products—wherever they’re needed most.
In this spotlight, Andrea shares what drives her passion for global health, her journey within IDA Foundation, and how she contributes daily to NCDconnect’s mission.
Can you share a bit about your journey with IDA Foundation and NCDconnect?
I have worked in IDA for almost 3 years and I really identify with IDA’s goal of ‘Bridging the gap in access to medicines’.
My journey within IDA started with the GDF-Stop TB program, where I was responsible for the procurement of 1st and 2nd line tuberculosis medicines to countries in the Middle East region. Later, I entered the USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program-Procurement and Supply Management (GHSC-PSM) as a Procurement Specialist to supply HIV/AIDS-related health commodities to recipients of USAID/PEPFAR funding. And lately, I joined the NCDconnect team with the aim to improve access to noncommunicable diseases (NCD) medicines and medical goods to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
During these years in IDA, I have learned how amazing it is to assist people from Low- and Middle-Income Countries to have access to medicine or medical treatments. Besides, in IDA, I have found amazing colleagues that have become friends.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your responsibilities at IDA? Any interesting hobbies or favourite pastimes?
I have 2 kids, so during my free time from work, I go with them to the park. My hobbies are singing, hiking and cooking Mexican food. I also like travelling; I have travelled to around 33 countries.
What drives your passion in the field of global health?
I come from Latin America, so I have seen with my own eyes how hard it can be to have access to medicine or medical treatment due to social, economic, geographic, or political reasons. For example, in my home country, private healthcare can be quite expensive, and people cannot afford it. To have access to medicine or medical screenings, they have to depend on the public healthcare system, which means they have to wait days or even months to get a medical appointment.
What is your role on the platform and in the process?
I’m the NCD Customer & Operations Specialist, so I’m the person who receives the buyer’s quotation request via our NCDconnect platform or email and processes it. This means that I work closely with our Purchasing and Sourcing team to provide optimal prices and the best products for our buyers. I also work together with our Transport team to offer the best transportation options by air, sea or road to our buyers, following the specific transportation conditions that each product requires. We also collaborate closely with our QA department to ensure that the products comply with quality specifications and relevant requirements, meeting the standards established by regulatory authorities.
In the end, our goal is to ensure the goods are delivered to their final destination, and ultimately, to the patients.
Why do you think NCDconnect is important? What gaps is it filling?
Because there is still not enough visibility on NCDs, it is important to create awareness and find solutions for people from LMICs to have access to NCD treatments. I have the conviction that NCDconnect helps bridge this gap and helps people from LMICs to improve their health and well-being.