Jonah Kulariba
ABOUT JONAH KULARIBA
Mathew Kampitib
ABOUT MATHEW KAMPITIB Mathew Kampitib is a Disease Control Officer with over 18 years of experience in public health and disease management. Currently working at the Navrongo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (NHDSS) unit, he leads disease surveillance activities, conducts outbreak investigations, and contributes to proposal development and report writing. He is also the lead for the PneuMenSurv 3 Carriage study, which focuses on pneumococcal disease surveillance. Between 2006 and 2013, Mathew coordinated Malaria and TB/HIV control programs in Ghana’s Garu-Tempane and Kassena-Nankana West districts, playing a vital role in advancing local disease prevention efforts. From 2013 to 2022, he served as a Health Tutor at Bolgatanga Nursing Training College (NTC) and Tamale Nursing and Midwifery Training College (NMTC). During this time, he taught courses such as Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Nutrition and Dietetics, Health Promotion, and Supply Chain Management, contributing to the professional development of future healthcare practitioners. Mathew’s expertise lies in disease control, health education, and public health surveillance. His comprehensive background in both program coordination and health education equips him with a multifaceted approach to disease prevention and control. Mathew is committed to advancing public health initiatives and enhancing community health resilience in Ghana, driven by his dedication to impactful disease control and prevention.
Bernice Baako
ABOUT BERNICE BAAKO Bernice Baako is a research officer in medical entomology with over seven years of experience at the Navrongo Health Research Centre. Her work centers on vector-borne diseases, aiming to reduce the burden of these diseases in Africa by studying vectors of medical significance. Since 2017, Bernice has been deeply involved in research on vectors linked to dengue, malaria, tick-borne pathogens, and viral hemorrhagic fevers, all of which are significant public health concerns. Her contributions are reflected in six published studies that explore disease vectors and their control. Bernice’s expertise includes vector identification, molecular analysis, and insecticide resistance assays. She has led fabric integrity tests on insecticide-treated nets and indoor insecticide-resistant assays, and she oversees the breeding of both susceptible and wild mosquito strains. Her technical skills and in-depth research have equipped her to provide insights that are critical for health policies in Ghana and beyond. As a young scientist, Bernice is committed to advancing vector-borne disease research to improve public health outcomes. She also aims to inspire other young women to pursue careers in science, particularly in entomology, helping to bridge gender gaps in scientific research. Through her work, she hopes to make a lasting impact on health policy and disease prevention in Africa.
Christopher Ayuure
ABOUT CHRISTOPHER AYUURE Christopher Ayuure is a public health professional with expertise in health education, mental health screening, and community engagement. Holding a BSc in Public Health, he is a member in good standing of the Allied Health Professional Council (PIN 33556219). Currently, he works on the Y-MIND Project, where he oversees logistics, organizes bi-weekly meetings, and conducts health education and sensitization sessions at senior high schools. He also leads community entry for the project in local dialects, ensuring effective outreach. Christopher’s role includes consenting and screening study participants for depression and anxiety using validated mental health tools. He actively trains nurses and guidance counselors in screening for depression and suicidal ideation, enhancing mental health support in schools. His research contributions include leading field activities like in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, audio transcription, data coding, analysis, and manuscript preparation. Christopher is the lead author of a manuscript titled “Providers’ Experience of Delivery Care for Common Mental Disorders to Youth in Ghana,” which is under review. He is proficient in software tools like NVIVO and DEDOOSE for qualitative data and STATA and SPSS for quantitative analysis. Christopher plays a key role in community engagement, often utilizing local radio for public health education. His career goal is to pursue a PhD in Mental Health, advancing research and interventions for those in need.
Moses Tivura
ABOUT MOSES TIVURA Moses Tivura is a health economist with over a decade of experience in public health research. Holding a master’s degree in Health Economics from the University of Ghana, Legon, Moses began his research career in 2010 as a field worker and has progressed to his current role as a Senior Research Officer. His research interests include the economic evaluation of health interventions, out-of-pocket health expenditures, maternal and newborn healthcare costs, health technology assessment, and health system strengthening. Moses has a wealth of experience in field coordination, supervision, and data collection. He has led several significant field projects, including evaluating the implementation of the Networks of Practice program in Ghana, coordinating Epimal studies on the safety and effectiveness of the RTS,S malaria vaccine for children under five, and overseeing the In-depth Household Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (IHOPE) project to assess healthcare spending and track disease-specific costs. With strong expertise in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, Moses is dedicated to producing evidence-based research that can drive impactful improvements in healthcare policies and systems, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. His commitment to high-quality research aligns with his belief in the transformative power of data-driven decisions to enhance the quality of life in underserved communities.
Mathilda Tsifodze
ABOUT MATHILDA TSIFODZE Mathilda Tsifodze is a young scientist with over six years of experience in research study coordination, specializing in clinical trials and epidemiological studies. Her role encompasses all stages of study management, from start-up activities to quality control and training, ensuring smooth and compliant research processes. Mathilda is highly skilled in coordinating study start-ups, conducting site feasibility assessments for new projects, and preparing sites for selection visits. She is also responsible for handling critical regulatory aspects, including protocol submissions to ethics committees and regulatory bodies, to secure necessary study approvals. Once studies are underway, Mathilda maintains the Investigator Site File, performs rigorous quality control on source documents, and trains field workers, contributing to the high standards required in clinical trials. Her commitment to research excellence and attention to detail make her a vital asset in the successful execution of clinical and epidemiological studies. With a proactive and organized approach, Mathilda ensures that all study phases meet regulatory and ethical standards, enhancing the reliability and integrity of each research project. Her expertise and dedication contribute significantly to advancing public health through high-quality research coordination.
Joseph Alale
ABOUT JOSEPH ALALE Joseph Alale is a biochemist and research officer with over eight years of field-based clinical research experience. Holding a BSc in Biochemistry from the University for Development Studies and an MPhil in Biochemistry from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Joseph has established himself as a dynamic scientist dedicated to advancing public health research. Joseph began his career at the Navrongo Health Research Centre during his national service in 2014. Over the years, he has contributed to a range of impactful projects, including the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), KOICA, JICA Nutrition, AWI-Gen, and EPIMAL studies. With a keen interest in molecular biochemistry, Joseph possesses strong analytical and conceptual skills that enable him to manage complex research tasks efficiently. His expertise include laboratory bench work, study coordination, research methodologies, and data analysis. As a growth-focused scientist, Joseph is committed to continuous learning and advancing biochemical research. His dedication to understanding life at the molecular level drives his innovative and rigorous approach to scientific inquiry, aiming to make meaningful contributions to public health and biochemistry.
Edith Dambayi
ABOUT EDITH DAMBAYI Edith Dambayi is a Senior Research Officer at the Navrongo Health Research Centre where she plays a pivotal role in advancing health research, particularly in mental health interventions. Currently, Edith is part of a dedicated research team piloting a mental health intervention program aimed at adolescents in Senior Secondary Schools within the Kassena Nankana districts, located in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Edith conducts scientific and ethical reviews of research protocols, facilitates focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, and contributes to proposal development, data collection, and analysis. In her current role, her expertise in qualitative research, including proposal development and data analysis, combined with her ability to lead focus group discussions and individual interviews, makes her a highly skilled professional in her field. Edith’s research interests are diverse, focusing on nutrition, mental health, and the health of women, children, and adolescents. Her involvement in both the practical and ethical dimensions of health research demonstrates a strong dedication to improving health outcomes in her community and beyond.
Desmond Agao
ABOUT AGAO DESMOND Desmond Agao is an environmental scientist with over 7 years of experience in conducting research, and implementing intervention projects aimed at Air pollution reduction, climate change impact reduction and Environmental Health sustainability. His expertise spans various domains within environmental science, including climate change adaptation, air pollution management and Environmental Epidemiological research. Mr. Desmond obtained his MPhil in Environmental Science from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where his masters research focused on the effects of 24-hour carbon monoxide exposure on cardiometabolic health among primary cooks. His academic background equipped her with a foundation in environmental modeling, statistical analysis, and field research methodologies. In his career, Desmond has held pivotal roles in both the social science and Clinical Science department of the Navrongo Health Research Institution. He served as a research assistant in the social science unit where he was the project manager for the Price, Peers and Perception study on improved cooking technology adaption and use. His co-authored research publications in peer-reviewed journals have significantly contributed to the understanding of indoor air pollution and technology adaptation. Currently, Mr. Davis serves as a research officer on the prospective study to evaluate the safety, effectiveness and impact of the rts,s/as01e vaccine in young children in sub-Saharan Africa in peri-urban community, known as the EpiMal group of studies. He served as a field supervisor and later, an assistant field coordinator. In recognition of his contributions to environmental health research, Desmond received the award for best young scientist in the Navrongo Health research center for the 2019 working year.
Dr. Anthony Hama
ABOUT DR. ANTHONY HAMA Dr. Anthony Hama is a professional in Ghana’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors with over 20 years of experience in regulatory affairs, clinical trials, business development, and project management. Holding a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and an Executive MBA from the Paris Graduate School of Management, Dr. Hama combines clinical expertise with strategic leadership. Currently, Dr. Hama is the Project Manager at the Navrongo Health Research Centre, where he directs the Ghana component of the African Covid-19 Vaccine Safety Surveillance (ACVaSS) project. Sponsored by GAVI and partnered with the Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN) and African Leadership in Vaccinology Expertise (Alive), this initiative underscores Dr. Hama’s commitment to advancing vaccine safety and pharmacovigilance in Africa. Dr. Hama’s expertise extends to pre- and post-market regulatory lifecycle management, where he has served as a consultant on global projects. Notably, he contributed to a Global Fund project to strengthen pharmacovigilance systems in Sénégal and Mozambique, developing innovative training curricula to build capacity within national regulatory bodies. His comprehensive knowledge in vaccine safety, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory processes has made him a key figure in healthcare, dedicated to enhancing product safety and public health outcomes.