2025 Annual Report
A Note from Leadership
As global commitments to health equity are tested by shifting priorities, Build Health International remains dedicated to promoting dignified and equitable healthcare access in communities we work alongside around the world.
A new chapter for maternal and newborn health care is around the corner in Sierra Leone. A training center in Rwanda equips biomedical technicians and health ministry partners on how to service and maintain medical equipment. A recent campus expansion and laboratory renovation enables scientific research and collaboration of infectious disease prevention in Nigeria.
BHI experienced multiple successes this past fiscal year. However, there have been increasing obstacles. The elimination of health programming and funding from the United States federal government and shifting international priorities have rescinded fundamental rights to better health throughout the world.
We have seen the ripple effects impact our work directly, especially in Haiti, where our team has experienced tremendous political and social challenges. And it is unfortunate the means to sustain and maintain healthcare infrastructure are among the first line items to be cut.
Among the tools we have at our disposal, innovation, adaptability, and determination are pivotal to moving forward. Our goals to provide adequate spaces and train and equip technical workforces in resource-constrained areas has become even more important. Because dignified and sustainable infrastructure guarantees dignified and sustainable healthcare access.
At Build Health International, the work of building health equity happens through thousands of small and deliberate actions. This work is more important than ever before. Every task, every partnership, every container shipment, every hand, and every voice, build the foundation for global health equity. In the face of growing challenges, we move forward with purpose, resilience, and resolve.
In solidarity,
The BHI Leadership Team
Year in Review
July 2024
The Mercy Ships Dental School Clinical Training Centre at Gamal University, construction completed in Conakry, Guinea.
August 2024
Laticrete visits The Maternal Center of Excellence in Sierra Leone to train the local team on how to install specialized flooring.
September 2024
BHI Co-Founder receives the American Association of Retired People (AARP) Purpose Prize Award for nonprofit founders leveraging their experience and expertise to create meaningful change in the world.
October 2024
ACEGID changes its name to the Institute of Genomics and Global Health and opens its doors to its campus development expansion for the first time.
November 2024
BHI architects and project managers visit the Terrewode Maternal Health Center in Uganda to meet with partners and conduct a site assessment.
December 2024
In partnership with Health Equity International and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, BHI prepares for solar commissioning at St. Boniface Hospital in Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti with the system’s peak capacity to generate 554 kWp.
January 2025
BHI breaks ground on the Dorma Dormitories and Training Center in Sierra Leone, a new facility that will house and equip clinical personnel working at the neighboring government hospital.
February 2025
The Lancet publishes a comprehensive study on the disparities in medical oxygen access, including advisory input from BHI, underlining the importance of technical collaboration to close gaps.
March 2025
BHI visits Cameroon for a site visit for a future pediatric children’s hospital with the African Children’s Healthcare Fund.
April 2025
BHI's architecture team completes the renderings of Onda Health, a small medical mission operating out of
Purulhá, Baja Verapaz, Guatemala.
May 2025
Ground breaks on a new hospital facility located in Rwibaale, Uganda. In partnership with African Mission Healthcare, BHI provided the campus development plan, which includes inpatient and outpatient services, as well as an emergency department and maternity spaces.
June 2025
The construction team furnishes the
interior of the South Ward at the
Maternal Center of Excellence in
Sierra Leone, bringing the facility one step closer to opening in early 2026.
FY25 Impact
93
Active Projects
18
Countries with Active Projects
40
Completed BHI Projects
37
Organizational Partners
141
Full-time team members and contractors
25
Countries of Origin Represented on Staff
Staff Stories
Keysi De Los Santos
Logistics Support Coordinator | USA
For Keysi De Los Santos, the warehouse isn’t just about pallets and packing slips—it’s where dignified healthcare begins. As BHI’s Warehouse Logistics Support Coordinator, Keysi ensures lifesaving materials reach hospitals and clinics safely and efficiently. He manages a fast-moving inventory, packing and shipping supplies from BHI’s expanded warehouse in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
For a shipment to Haiti, he custom-built a crate to protect an anesthesia machine; it fell off a flatbed truck on a bumpy road but arrived intact. Keysi’s attention to detail meant the equipment was ready for installation, allowing doctors to safely deliver critical care. Through every crate, Keysi helps deliver not just supplies—but dignity, safety, and hope.
Sola DaSilva
Architect | USA
Sola joined Build Health International (BHI), inspired by the organization’s work in Nigeria, where she was born. As an architecture student, she was drawn to BHI’s focus on healthcare and building in communities that are often overlooked. One of her most impactful projects is the Institute of Genomics and Global Health (formally ACEGID) in Ede, Nigeria, designed to support research and train the next generation of African scientists. The project reflects BHI’s long-term vision—strengthening local capacity, building sustainable systems, and creating spaces led by the communities they serve.
Sola emphasizes services that deliver care effectively and values BHI’s engagement after construction, ensuring facilities continue to evolve. Her work is driven by optimism and a belief in the potential of African communities, helping build a future grounded in dignity, equity, and self-determination.
Kevin Ndeti
Electrical Engineer | Kenya
As an electrical engineer, Kevin Ndeti brings engineering expertise and purpose to Build Health International. Since joining BHI in 2021 through Engineering 4 Change, he has designed and implemented resilient infrastructure systems that improve access to quality care in underserved communities. For Kevin, the work is not just about buildings—it’s about creating systems that last and serve.
With a background in electrical engineering, he focuses on equity, collaboration, and long-term impact. Kevin partners with healthcare workers, technicians, and plant operators to ensure systems fit the local context—from solar-powered oxygen plants to energy-efficient hospital upgrades. He supported an electrical assessment at AIC CURE Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, implementing a solar solution that eliminated power outages, and continues to provide technical support through Project BOXER to keep life-saving oxygen flowing.
Rene Gasana
Architect and Medical Planner | Rwanda
Rene Gasana sees architecture to be more than just construction; it is a tool for social justice. This belief stems from his upbringing in Rwanda, where he witnessed the stark contrast between private comfort and public neglect, which instilled in him a resolve to challenge the notion that some people deserve less.
Since joining BHI, Rene has channeled this passion into numerous high-impact projects. Rene points to his work on the Cameroon Children’s Hospital, where the partner, a doctor, had a strong vision for the layout of surgical and emergency departments. Rather than imposing a different plan, Rene's team demonstrates BHI's collaborative method: presenting multiple options with clear pros and cons to find the most effective solution. Also, he emphasizes the importance of tailoring each project to its local context by using key design considerations for healthcare infrastructure in Rwanda. Looking ahead, Rene is most excited to see BHI’s impact deepen across Africa.
Special Project Report
Trace the Development of a
BHI Design-Build Project
Designing and building healthcare infrastructure can involve many steps and stakeholders. BHI meets the unique needs of every partner to conceptualize, develop, and in some cases, implement innovative solutions that address some of the most pressing health issues across the globe. Each project begins with a project definition, which defines the scope moving forward.
Phase 1 - Pre-Design
Early on, BHI works with partners to translate healthcare goals into initial design ideas and explores how spaces should look, feel, and function. The BHI team evaluates the site, zoning, and infrastructure to ensure feasibility and alignment with clinical needs. This phase also provides a rough understanding of potential fundraising and/or planning costs and lays the groundwork for a design that is both practical and patient-centered.
Phase 2 - Schematic Design
This phase refines the pre-design concept into a more detailed and visual plan. BHI’s architectural and engineering teams collaborate to develop preliminary drawings that clarify layout, function, and aesthetics – helping partners better understand the project’s direction and identify key opportunities or challenges before moving forward.
Phase 3 - Design Development
During design development, BHI engages in developing the necessary details of the approved design. BHI works to plan room layouts, including design elements such as structural and mechanical systems. BHI then works with the partner to advance the design to meet required functional and regulatory compliance. Next, BHI and the partner coordinate major equipment requirements for compatibility and flexibility with the design.
Phase 4 - Construction Documents
As the final stage of the design process, this phase translates the approved design into a comprehensive set of technical drawings and specifications. BHI’s team details architectural, structural, and engineering components to prepare the project for permitting, bidding, and construction as well as meet local code requirements.
Phase 5 - Pre-Construction
BHI facilitates the transition from planning and design to construction by preparing key documentation, providing contractor support, and overseeing initial stages of the pre-construction process. This phase is customizable, allowing partners to select the level of support that best fits their project needs.
Phase 6 - Construction
BHI oversees the construction process to meet quality, compliance, and alignment with the project’s timeline and budget. Depending on the setting, BHI may provide full construction services or work closely with local firms to manage the build on behalf of the partner.
Projects
The Maternal Center of Excellence
Koidu Government Hospital | Kono, Sierra Leone
In collaboration with Partners In Health Sierra Leone, BHI is finalizing construction on the first phases of the Maternal Center of Excellence in Kono to improve outcomes for women and children in a region where maternal and neonatal mortality remain high. Designed and built with sustainability and dignity at its core—and led by a majority-women construction team—the MCOE will serve as a regional referral and clinical training center, expanding access to quality maternal and newborn healthcare across West Africa. Beyond MCOE, BHI is driving several other high-impact projects in Sierra Leone. Each strengthens healthcare infrastructure, equips local communities, and paves the way for a future where every person can access dignified, accessible care.
ACEGID
Redemeer's University | Ede, Nigeria
BHI partnered with the Institute of Genomics and Global Health to complete the first phases of the African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), strengthening infrastructure for epidemic preparedness. The collaboration included renovating a high-containment BSL-3 lab and designing an eight-building campus expansion with new labs, classrooms, and housing. These upgrades support ACEGID’s mission to train the next generation of African scientists and enhance the region’s ability to detect, study, and respond to infectious diseases before they become global threats.
CURE Niger
CURE Hôpital des Enfants | Niamey, Niger
BHI is supporting CURE Niger’s plans to expand surgical capacity and improve patient care. This includes building new operating rooms, renovating existing spaces for recovery and anesthesia, and enhancing the hospital’s solar power system. These upgrades will increase surgical access, support training of healthcare workers, and reduce environmental impact—helping CURE clinicians provide higher-quality care while strengthening its long-term service to the community.
(photo credit (R): CURE International)
Biomedical Engineering and Oxygen Training
60 Countries and 4 Partners (to date)
To ensure sustainable access to oxygen, BHI partners with multilateral stakeholders such as The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria - Project BOXER to lead hands-on training programs for biomedical engineers and technicians, as well as hospital personnel, in low-resource settings. These sessions focus on maintaining PSA plants and repairing critical medical equipment. In collaboration with the Wagner Foundation, the Skoll Foundation, and other key partners, BHI provides technical assistance, coordination, infrastructure upgrades, and comprehensive training to ensure sustainable access to medical oxygen in low-resource settings. By building local capacity and partnering with Ministries of Health and hospitals, BHI supports long-term system resilience—ensuring oxygen systems remain functional, reliable, and safe.
Our Community
Thank you to the generosity and kindness of our global community. Our supporters organized campaigns that raised awareness and critical funds to promote BHI’s impact.
They became monthly donors, partners, and project sponsors; provided in-kind materials or software to enable our work; funded operating expenses; and stayed committed to building health equity.
We are grateful to everyone who made our work possible.
Dr. Austin Demby
Minister of Health
Government of Sierra Leone
"The Maternal Center of Excellence reflects the power of partnership in advancing maternal and child health in Sierra Leone. Together with Partners In Health and Build Health International, we are making lasting improvements that will benefit generations to come.”
Dave Lowrance
Senior Specialist
The Global Fund
“BHI has been a vital partner to the Global Fund supporting robust implementation of our medical oxygen supply infrastructure financing and serving a critical role in O2 ecosystems. Their work consistently reflects core values of country-led design and operations, focusing on essential public health system capacities and sustainability features. BHI is synonymous with genuine partnership based on field-first, can-do attitudes, and commitment to quality regardless of the context and challenges.”
Dr. Regan Marsh
Associate Medical Director for Health Equity
Mass General Brigham
BHI Board Member
“Oxygen is too often unavailable or in short supply in the places BHI works. When I worked with Partners In Health in Haiti, our team managed critical patients every day, from pregnancy complications at delivery to trauma. Reliable medical oxygen was fundamental to our care. It saved newborns babies, stabilized critical patients, and allowed us to provide the best possible care. Having access to oxygen was the most important investment we made in infrastructure - it saved more lives than anything. BHI enables uninterrupted access to oxygen every day.”
Jamie Mchunu
Associate Director |
Center for Global Health Equity at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
“The Center for Global Health Equity (CGHE) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is excited to be developing a new partnership with BHI. It is clear that in both mission and action we are closely aligned and there are many opportunities for collaboration. We are thrilled to work with BHI, an organization that shares this vision, and we look forward to continuing to explore opportunities for joint training and education activities and utilization and sharing of existing supplies and resources.”
Board of Directors
Dr. Patricia Maguire Meservey (Chair)
Bob Broudo (Vice Chair)
Harry Dumay, Ph.D., MBA (Treasurer)
Jennifer Aliber (Clerk)
Karen Keating Ansara
Andrew DeFranza
Herby Duverné
Dr. Regan Marsh, MD, MPH
Stuart Meurer
Mark Michalowski
Dr. Philip Onyebujoh
Bonni Theriault
Dr. Patrick Ulysse
Father John Unni
Build Health International’s Board of Directors is composed of a diverse set of visionary and driven leaders committed to equity. Their professional experiences and expertise range from clinical medicine to education and philanthropy. We are grateful for their critical guidance and support, which is helping shape BHI’s future.
FY25 Financials
As a companion to our annual report, below you will find our 2025 Annual Financial Report, for the period from July 1, 2024 –June 30, 2025.
This reflects BHI’s commitment to transparency and accountability in stewarding the resources with which you generously entrust us.
Contact Us
Build Health International
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Suite 120B
Beverly, MA 01915
USA
buildhealthinternational.org
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BHI is grateful to Kat Kendon, Nadia Todres, and others for the use of their photos.
Thank you to BHI team members Joseph Doe, Gerard Georges, Emma Harkness, Shanon Heckethorn, Pamela Moore, Rosanna Niosi, Tracy Previlon, and Sarah Sceery for their outstanding contributions to the production of this report.
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