Staff - NAVRONGO HEALTH RESEARCH CENTRE

Dr. Patrick Ansah

ABOUT DR. PATRICK ANSAH Dr. Patrick Odum Ansah is a public health specialist, medical doctor and the current director of Navrongo Health Research Centre. He is a recognized for his impactful contributions to public health and clinical research. With a deep commitment to enhancing healthcare in Ghana, Dr. Ansah has focused his expertise on infectious diseases, particularly meningitis. His academic journey began at the University of Ghana, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Sciences in 1998, followed by a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) in 2002. Driven by his passion for public health, he completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) in 2005. Furthering his specialization in clinical trials, he obtained a Master of Science from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2013 and became a member of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons with a focus on Public Health in 2014. Dr. Ansah has played a pivotal role in meningitis research, serving as Co-Principal Investigator in a landmark study assessing the safety and efficacy of a Meningococcal-A conjugate vaccine in children. His work extends to evaluating the incidence of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa and various public health interventions, including seasonal malaria chemoprevention. With numerous publications and ongoing research projects, Dr. Ansah remains a leading figure in the medical community, driving significant advancements in healthcare outcomes in Ghana and beyond. His innovative approach and dedication to research continue to inspire future generations of health professionals. Dr Patrick Odum Ansah was awarded by the World Health Organization in 2015 for his immense contribution to the development of Conjugate meningococcal A vaccine (MenAfriVac) for integration into the expanded programme of immunisation (EPI) in countries in the African Meningitis Belt. Dr. Patrick Ansah’s current goal is to train young scientists in the field of clinical trials and health research in general and to develop and perfect systems that support Good Clinical Practices in resource-constrained environments such as in Northern Ghana. PUBLICATIONS Evaluation of pilot implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprevention on morbidity in young children in Northern Sahelian Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) Assessing the safety, impact and effectiveness of RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine following its introduction in three sub-Saharan African countries: methodological approaches and study set-up – PubMed (nih.gov) Social and demographic correlates of cardiovascular mortality in the Kassena-Nankana districts of Ghana: a verbal post-mortem analysis – PubMed (nih.gov) Effect of national immunization campaigns with oral polio vaccine on all-cause mortality in children in rural northern Ghana: 20 years of demographic surveillance cohort data – PubMed (nih.gov) Cardiovascular disease prevention: Community Based Asset Mapping within religious networks in a rural Sub-Saharan African neighbourhood – PubMed (nih.gov) Birth preparedness and complications readiness among women in disadvantaged rural districts of Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) Genetic diversity of rotavirus infection among young children with diarrhoea in the Kassena-Nankana Districts of Northern Ghana: a seasonal cross-sectional survey – PubMed (nih.gov) Impact of community health interventions on maternal and child health indicators in the upper east region of Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) Pf7: an open dataset of Plasmodium falciparum genome variation in 20,000 worldwide samples – PubMed (nih.gov) How different incentives influence reported motivation and perceptions of performance in Ghanaian community-based health planning and services zones – PubMed (nih.gov) Hypertension knowledge, attitudes and perceptions among adults in the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance Site: a mixed methods analysis Effect of maternal migration on under-five mortality in the Navrongo HDSS area Barriers and facilitators to community acceptability of integrating point-of-care testing to screen for sickle cell disease in children in primary healthcare settings in rural Upper East Region of Northern Ghana Hypertension and diabetes control: faith-based centres offer a promise for expanding screening services and linkage to care in Ghana A retrospective data analysis on prevalence and risk factors for hypothermia among sick neonates at presentation to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital

Clement Minyila

ABOUT CLEMENT MINYILA Clement Minyila is the Communication Officer responsible for documenting and disseminating the activities of the Navrongo Health Research Centre and building beneficial links through effective internal and external communication. He holds a Diploma in Cinematography from the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) and a BA in Social Science from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. He also obtained a Licentiate (MA) in communication from the Gregorian University, Rome in 2005. Before joining the NHRC in 2011, Clement worked with the Centre for Development Communications (CEDEC) in the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocese as the Coordinator of Social Communications. He was Editor for The Diocesan Link, a regional newsletter that published religious and topical articles from the Upper East Region of Ghana. From 2006 – 2011, Clement, in addition to his responsibilities in CEDEC was the Manager of the Nabiina Community Radio, a local radio station in Navrongo. With an extensive knowledge in the media, Clement has collaborated to plan and execute NHRC campaigns and events such as NHRC @ 25, the maiden Annual General and Scientific Review Meeting of the Centre in 2012 among others. He has also assisted in preparing content for the press and other publications. In collaboration with the IT Unit, he coordinates to update latest content on the Centre’s website. He is skilled in the design of newsletters and promotional publications for a wide range of uses and has produced a number of audio visual materials for outreach activities and for broadcast. Clement is a Board member of the STANDARD Newspapers and Magazines Ltd., a national weekly of the Catholic Church in Ghana and a Board member/Secretary of the Nabiina Community Radio in Navrongo. His major interest is in the use of appropriate media for social mobilisation and development.

Mohammed Sayibu

ABOUT MOHAMMED SAYIBU

Nadia Anuseh

ABOUT NADIA ANUSEH Nadia Anuseh is an expert in research ethics and currently serves as the Administrator for the Navrongo Health Research Centre Institutional Review Board (NHRCIRB), a role she has held since May 2022. With a strong commitment to ethical standards in research, Nadia’s responsibilities encompass advising researchers on protocol submissions, pre-reviewing research proposals involving human subjects, and ensuring strict adherence to the NHRCIRB Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). She meticulously manages the safekeeping of NHRCIRB documents, records, and archives, ensuring that all materials are organized and accessible for audit and reference. In addition to administrative oversight, Nadia plays an active role in guiding and training NHRCIRB Board members on evaluating the ethical integrity of research protocols, which is vital in promoting ethical compliance across all research activities. Her work involves facilitating ethical reviews that support high standards of participant safety and research transparency. Nadia’s dedication to research ethics and her structured approach to protocol management contribute significantly to the efficient functioning of the NHRCIRB. By helping researchers understand and meet ethical standards, she ensures that all research conducted under NHRC supervision adheres to both local and international guidelines.