Mariama Mahamadu
MARIAMA MAHAMADU
Jonas Dakurah
ABOUT JONAS DAKURAH Jonas Dakurah is presently a Deputy Chief Accountant in the Ghana Health Service and since 2009 the Head of Finance of the Navrongo Health Research Centre. At the Centre he oversees all financial management issues including preparation of financial reports for management and external financiers, supervises the finance staff of the Centre, coordinates all financial audits conducted at the Centre and supports in developing budget proposals for research projects. He is also currently the Chairperson of the Health Services Accountants in the Upper East Region. Prior to joining the Health Research Centre in Navrongo Jonas was the head of the accounts section of the Brong Ahafo Regional Hospital in Sunyani from 2002 to 2009 where he was responsible for all financial issues of the Regional Hospital. His other responsibilities in the regional hospital included; preparation of revenue and expenditure budgets, establishing internal control system to ensure all revenue owed the hospital are collected and paid into the respective hospital accounts and preparation of monthly and annual financial reports to the Regional Health Directorate. From 1998-2002, Mr Dakurah was Head of the financial monitoring unit of the Ashanti Region where he was responsible for preparing, reviewing and validating the Regional Budget Management Centres (BMC) quarterly financial reports and consolidation for the Ghana Health Service headquarters in Accra. He was also in-charge of training of financial and non-financial managers on Accounting, Finance and Taxation (AFT) rule and new rules in accounting practice in the Ghana Health Service. From 1993-1998, Jonas was the Head of Finance in the Ashanti Regional Medical Stores, responsible for preparing cash and carry medicine accounts for the Regional Health Directorates. During the same period he led in the Monitoring and Evaluation of all Accounts in connection with medicines in the Ashanti Region. Jonas has undertaken several training in finance during his long career including; certificates program in financial management at the University of Strathclyde Graduate Business School Glasgow, Scotland, the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership EDCTP sponsored training in Dakar Senegal and professional training at the institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG).
Yahaya Zulhaq
ABOUT YAHAYA ZULHAQ
Kennedy Hulla
ABOUT KENNEDY AKUFFO HULLA
James Abani
ABOUT JAMES ABANI
Dr. Victor Asoala
ABOUT DR. VICTOR ASOALA Dr. Victor Asoala is a Public Health Researcher with over 20 years of experience in the field. He currently serves as the Head of the Biomedical Science Department at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, where his work focuses on advancing research in disease vectors and vector-borne diseases across Africa. His expertise lies in mitigating the impact of these diseases, with a particular emphasis on malaria. Dr. Asoala has made significant contributions to assessing insecticide susceptibility and has conducted extensive studies on malaria transmission dynamics. His research has been pivotal in identifying insecticide-resistant vector species, thereby informing better control strategies. In addition to his malaria research, Dr. Asoala has played a critical role in monitoring and improving malaria control methods, providing crucial insights into their efficacy and sustainability. His work also spans infectious disease surveillance, allowing him to contribute to the broader field of global health. Dr. Asoala is committed to catalyzing research that can shape global health outcomes, with the aim of addressing pressing public health challenges in Africa and beyond. His efforts have significantly enhanced the understanding of vector biology and control, contributing to the development of more effective interventions against infectious diseases. PUBLICATIONS Bio-efficacy, physical integrity, use and attrition of long-lasting insecticidal nets under operational conditions for malaria prevention in Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) Urogenital schistosomiasis transmission, malaria and anemia among school-age children in Northern Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) Clinical evaluation of the BioFire Global Fever Panel for the identification of malaria, leptospirosis, chikungunya, and dengue from whole blood: a prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study – PubMed (nih.gov) Indoor residual spraying with a non-pyrethroid insecticide reduces the reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum in a high-transmission area in northern Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) Genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Ghana from 2020-2021 – PubMed (nih.gov) Drug resistance and vaccine target surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum using nanopore sequencing in Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) First record of Babesia and Theileria parasites in ticks from Kassena-Nankana, Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) Occurrence of Rickettsia spp. and Coxiella burnetii in ixodid ticks in Kassena-Nankana, Ghana – PubMed (nih.gov) First record of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Ghana, a potential risk to livestock production – PubMed (nih.gov) Molecular survey of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in livestock ticks from Kassena-Nankana, Ghana; with a first report of Anaplasma capra and Ehrlichia minasensis – PubMed (nih.gov) First molecular identification of multiple tick-borne pathogens in livestock within Kassena-Nankana, Ghana | Animal Diseases | Full Text (biomedcentral.com) First Whole Genome Sequencing of Crimean–Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (CCHFV) in Tick Species within Ghana (hindawi.com) Drug resistance and vaccine target surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum using nanopore sequencing in Ghana | Nature Microbiology Spatial and Seasonal Patterns of Tick Infestations in Kassena-Nankana Livestock Risk factors affecting the feeding site predilection of ticks on cattle in Ghana Molecular identification of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in Hyalomma rufipes and Amblyomma variegatum in the Upper East Region of Ghana
Ernest Kanyomse
ABOUT ERNEST KANYOMSE Ernest Kanyomse is a Senior Research Officer at the Navrongo Health Research Centre with over 15 years research experience. He studied Agricultural Engineering at the School of Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana where he obtained his BSc. and subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) at the School of Medical Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. He has worked and coordinated several research projects including; the Navrongo Health Demographic Surveillance System (NHDSS), Community Health and Family Planning (CHFP), INDEPTH Network Effectiveness and Safety Studies (INESS), phase IV studies on ACTs drugs on Malaria (Anti-malaria), Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH), Maternal Health Care Financing and Utilization Study, Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) study, Cross-Border Migration, Sexual Health and STDs/AIDS and Data Management at the centre. Ernest is currently the project Coordinator for the Cooking up Clean Air-Stove Project. His research interest is in Environmental Health.
Francis Broni
ABOUT FRANCIS BRONI Francis Broni is the Laboratory Manager at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, a role he has held since January 2022. He brings a wealth of academic and professional experience to his position, having pursued a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine at CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences. His qualifications include a Fellowship in Public Health and Epidemiology from the West African Postgraduate College of Medical Laboratory Science (2022), an M.Phil. in Applied Epidemiology and Disease Control from the University of Ghana (2017), and a BSc in Laboratory Technology from the University of Cape Coast (2013). In his research career, Francis has served as the Principal Investigator for a study on malaria in children under five in Ghana’s Upper East Region. He has coordinated projects on the pharyngeal microbiome’s influence on meningitis risk, as well as research assessing Plasmodium falciparum prevalence and malaria control measures in sub-Saharan Africa following the introduction of the RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine. His expertise extends to laboratory management for major clinical trials, including studies on the efficacy and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and a Lassa virus vaccine. His research interests focus on the molecular epidemiology of communicable and non-communicable diseases, particularly malaria and cardiovascular diseases. With his extensive background in laboratory science and research, Francis Broni plays a crucial role in advancing public health initiatives at the Navrongo Health Research Centre.
Deborah Narwortey
ABOUT DEBORAH NARWORTEY Deborah Narwortey is a Senior Research Scientist at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, renowned for her expertise in infectious diseases, particularly in vaccine-preventable respiratory bacterial pathogens of public health importance. With a focus on pneumococcus and meningococcus, her work is pivotal in profiling genomic diversities, analyzing clonal lineages, and evaluating gene markers as potential vaccine targets, all aimed at mitigating the challenges presented by emerging pathogenic variants. Deborah holds an MPhil in Clinical Microbiology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, completed in 2019, and a B.Sc. in Applied Biology from the University for Development Studies, earned in 2013. Her extensive research background includes leading and co-investigating several high-impact studies. She was the principal investigator for the study on *Nasopharyngeal Carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae among Healthy Children in the Kassena-Nankana Districts of Northern Ghana. Additionally, she has served as co-investigator for the Epidemiological Surveillance of Streptococcus pneumoniae following the implementation of the PCV-13 vaccine and as coordinator for the Carriage Surveys Towards the Control of Vaccine Preventable Meningitis in the African Meningitis Belt. She is also a coordinator for the Severe Infectious Disease: Surveillance, Detection, Risks and Consequences in West Africa project. Her dedication to public health research and outstanding achievements have been recognized through multiple awards, including the 2023 Best Young Research Scientist award, travel awards from the 16th European Meeting on the Molecular Biology of the Pneumococcus Conference and the Meningitis Research Foundation Conference, as well as the UDS Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Academic Performance for being the overall best graduating female student in 2013. In 2018, she contributed to the proposal development for a Pfizer-funded Pneumococcal Carriage Study (Tracking Number: 59593883), further underlining her commitment to impactful research in public health. Deborah Nawortey’s work continues to shape the field of infectious disease surveillance and intervention, advancing the understanding of pathogen dynamics and the development of targeted vaccines to combat health challenges in Africa and beyond.
Stephen Kantum
ABOUT STEPHEN KANTUM Stephen Kantum is a dedicated Research Scientist with over a decade of experience in vector-borne disease research and health research, focusing on diseases of significant public health concern. Since joining the Navrongo Health Research Centre in 2013, he has progressed from Research Assistant to Senior Research Officer and now coordinates pivotal research projects while managing the Centre’s entomology laboratory. Stephen’s primary research centers on vector-borne parasitic infections, especially malaria. His expertise encompasses comprehensive vector control monitoring, including insecticide resistance monitoring, vector control implementation, monitoring and evaluation, bioassays, and vector susceptibility assays. Stephen is also experienced in conducting long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLITNs) maintenance and durability studies, addressing environmental management issues, and providing operational support for public health initiatives. In his role as a Senior Research Officer, Stephen has honed his skills in laboratory management and project coordination, and he consistently brings technical expertise to his department’s research efforts. His knowledge of malaria vector identification and molecular biology is supported by practical proficiency in DNA and RNA extraction, PCR, and data analysis using SPSS. Through his work, Stephen has contributed to improved vector control strategies and disease prevention measures, providing vital insights into malaria control and the health impact of disease vectors. Stephen’s commitment to disease control and research makes him a valuable asset in public health research, particularly in vector management and malaria prevention.