Health Yetu Team

Dr. Mayian Lekirimpoto is one of the leading indigenous Samburu women in medicine. Specializing in surgical and maternal health, with extensive experience serving marginalized pastoralist and Indigenous communities in Kenya. She is the founder and director of Naret Organization, leading initiatives on women’s health, gender justice, and climate resilience. Dr. Mayian is a recognized advocate and speaker on Indigenous health rights, committed to advancing equitable and culturally responsive healthcare.

Dr. Carol Githui is our lead dentist and has helped expand our dental team to 14 members within two years. During the outreaches, they are capable of treating over 250 people every day. Currently we are conducting large dental camps twice a year, but aim to increase the frequency in the years to come.

Peter Ndwiga is the leader of the eye team. He leads a team of 14 ophthalmology specialists, who are able to conduct 60 cataract operations in a single day. He is the Outreach Manager of the Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital (LSEH) in Nairobi, Kenya.

Sam van Ooijen (27) is a Ph.D. student at Harvard University focusing on gene editing therapy. He has a strong background in cancer development as well. He has a strong affinity for health care and conservation.

Sam is the managing director of the board (KvK).

Simen van den Berg (28) is currently in medical training to become a surgeon. Also, he recently finished a field guiding course at Marakele National Park, South Africa. Bringing healthcare to remote areas would improve the quality of life of the population there and would thereby also help with the human wild-life conflict that we are currently facing. This combination of conservation and healthcare is his drive to work for the Health Yetu Foundation.

Simen wants to stimulate sustainable knowledge exchange by mobilizing and sending Dutch doctors along with the outreaches, and organize training of medical personnel that work in remote areas. 

Besides his study, he has been working as an Allocation Officer at the Eurotransplant International Foundation and he is on the committee of the Rapenburg Race foundation, a foundation that organizes city swims to raise money for paraplegia research.

Simen is the medical director of the board (KvK).

Merel Hazewinkel (29) is the Co-Medical Director of the Health Yetu Foundation. She is currently doing her Ph.D. research at Cornell University in New York and is a PhD candidate at the plastic surgery department at Erasmus MC Rotterdam. 

Since the start of her medical career, her goal is to share medical knowledge in remote areas with less accessibility to health care and to contribute to society as a doctor. As a co-medical director of the Health Yetu Foundation, she will stimulate Dutch doctors to help in the process of providing medical care and education to vulnerable communities.

Merel is the secretary on the board and medical director (KvK).

ErasmusMC, Uroloog(NVU)-Androloog(EAA)- Seksuoloog (NVVS, FECSM). Tropenarts (NVTG).

Dr. Madeleine Dolleman is a gynecologist whose expertise ensures the highest medical and ethical standards in Health Yetu’s HPV program. Having grown up in Kenya, she brings a dual Dutch–Kenyan perspective that is invaluable for bridging cultural contexts and fostering trust within the communities we work in. Her background allows her to combine world-class clinical training with deep local understanding, ensuring our initiatives are both medically rigorous and culturally responsive.

Thijs Hellemans (26) is a medical doctor who has completed several of his medical internships abroad. During these experiences, he discovered his passion for making a difference and contributing to accessible, high-quality healthcare for communities in need. Something he is eager to continue pursuing within the Health Yetu Foundation.

Suzette Nesselaar, 27, is a passionate journalist with a background in international news. After studying journalism with a focus on foreign reporting, she has spent the last five years as a reporter for a national broadcaster. Known for her curiosity and empathy, Suzette has produced several impactful documentaries, both in the Netherlands and abroad. She believes that everyone has their own story to tell, and she’s committed to capturing these unique narratives through powerful visuals and storytelling.

This dedication to authentic stories aligns with her work for the Health Yetu Foundation, where she helps to highlight the foundation’s mission of personalized care. Just as Health Yetu sees each individual as unique, Suzette’s goal is to amplify the voices of those who may otherwise go unheard, sharing their journeys with compassion and respect. Through her work, she brings to life the stories that matter, honoring the people behind them.

Anne-Marie (Mimi) Schorer is a medical doctor currently training as a dentist specializing in maxillofacial surgery (OMF surgery). Her expertise extends beyond the Dutch healthcare system, as she has worked in an East African hospital, gaining invaluable insights into cross-cultural medical practice.

Anne-Marie also has a passion for storytelling through video and photography. She uses her creative lens to capture powerful moments, bridging the gap between this creative world and healthcare.

As co-medical director of the Health Yetu Foundation, Anne-Marie guides dental care projects and plays a central role in the foundation's (social) media presence. Her dedication to improving access to care in remote areas and sharing impactful stories drive her work and ensure that the foundation's mission resonates across borders.

Bibi is in charge of all the promotional events organized in the Netherlands and the Mt Kenya triathlon event in Kenya. She has a background in communication sciences, and a strong passion for bringing people together to work towards a shared goal.

Medical school at Leiden University, followed by surgical training in Rotterdam. Surgical research fellow in Mass General Hospital & Harvard Medical school in Boston, MA. PhD on Hepatocyes in liver support systems (1993). Further specialization in Surgical Oncology in Rotterdam and appointed as consultant in University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands in 1995. Professor in Surgical Oncology at the University of Utrecht since 2002. Chair of the Dept of Surgical Oncology, GI and Endocrine Surgery at UMC Utrecht from 2001-2016. Program Director surgical resident training from 2000-2013. Co-chair Laboratory for Translational Surgical Oncology since 1998. Research focus on hepatic tumors, particularly (outgrowth of) colorectal liver metastases. Supervisor of 72 PhD graduates. Current clinical focus on Endocrine and HPB surgery, including minimally invasive approaches, and Global Surgery. Currently chairs the INTEREST educational outreach program of the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons (IAES).

Consultant Surgeon with a special interest in oncology of the gastro-intestinal tract. Engaged in research at Zuyderland Medical Centre concerning optimizing hernia, colorectal-, gastric cancer treatment in order to improve outcomes in surgery.

In 2012 PhD graduation with the thesis entitled: 'Improving the outcome of liver surgery'.

Specialties: General Surgery (including basic trauma surgery), and the broad field of Gastrointestinal Surgery: Upper GI, Colorectal, HPB surgery, Hernia surgery and Endocrine Surgery.

Media Team

Sustainability Consultant