Moananu Dr. Karaponi Okesene-Gafa is the immediate Past President of the Pacific Society for Reproductive Health (PSRH), bringing extensive clinical, academic, and leadership experience to the board. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), a Diploma in Obstetrics & Clinical Gynaecology, is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRANZCOG) and earned her PhD focusing on maternal health.
Dr. Okesene-Gafa played a pivotal role in guiding PSRH through a challenging transition when Aiono Professor Alec Ekeroma stepped down as Head of Secretariat. Balancing her roles as Vice President, Acting Head of Secretariat, senior lecturer, and part-time clinician—all while completing her PhD—she was instrumental in keeping PSRH operational and financially stable. Her commitment often meant dedicating long evenings and weekends to sustain the organisation until the current Head of Secretariat was appointed in 2022. She continues to serve on the board as an ex-officio President, offering guidance and support where needed. Her journey has been marked by resilience and her faith in God, relying also on the support of her family, academic mentors like Professors Lesley McCowan, Peter Stone and Caroline Crowther, and a strong network of colleagues from RANZCOG and PSRH
Dr. Okesene-Gafas experience exemplifies the collaborative spirit needed to advance reproductive health in the Pacific. She is deeply grateful for the financial and other forms of support from various organizations, especially RANZCOG, whose generosity enables PSRH work to continue. Dr Okesene-Gafa envisions a future where Pacific governments prioritise womens health, recognising that the well-being of women is foundational to the survival and growth of Pacific populations. She advocates for the elimination of cervical cancer, reduction in endometrial cancer rates, and the implementation of programs targeting obesity communicable and non-communicable diseases especially during pregnancy and childbirth.
Dr. Okesene-Gafa remains committed to PSRH’s mission to train healthcare workers in women’s health, equipping them with the skills necessary to improve health outcomes across the Pacific region.