Connecting Citizens to Science

In this week's episode, we will be hearing from two PhD students from the ARISE Consortium. ARISE stands for accountability and responsiveness in informal settlements for equity, and is about promoting social change for improved health and wellbeing with communities and people living and working within urban informal spaces.

This episodes guests:

Assistant Director, The Centre of Excellence for Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (CGSRHR); and PhD student

A public health researcher and academic with more than 13 years of experience of implementing community-based public health interventions and research in Bangladesh. An advocate of community/people-centric health interventions. The areas of her research interest and work include community-based participatory research, action research, health systems research, health and gender equity, socio-political determinants of health, and humanitarian health systems. Bachera works with marginalised communities living in informal urban settlements and humanitarian settings.  

Relevant information sources:

Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ckDgGNcAAAAJ&hl=en  

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bachera-aktar-bd/  

ORCID: Bachera Aktar (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0242-1792) 

ARISE: www.ariseconsortium.org  

BRAC University - https://www.bracu.ac.bd/about/people/bachera-aktar 

Currently, Samuel works on a project that is multi-country and focused on residents of informal settlements. In Sierra Leone, Samuel's project works within 3 communities where the research aims are to provide empowerment opportunities to community residents based on data-driven development.  

Samuel works with co-researchers (community residents who are now assistants to the research team) and are capacitated based on their various levels of education. They are involved in designing the study/research, data collection, analysis of data, and dissemination.  

The community people are the centre of the research in the sense that they are part of the research and play a key role at all levels. It is critical to know that the community people are part of the research team but are also participants.  

Relevant information sources:

ARISE: https://www.ariseconsortium.org/news-events/ 

IDS: https://bulletin.ids.ac.uk/index.php/idsbo/article/view/3119 

TWITTER HANDLES

@samuelsaidu0  @AktarBachera @ARISEHub @UKRI_News @BRACJPGSPH @BRACUniversity @COMAHS_USL @GCRF @SclAgency

This is a podcast is produced by The SCL Agency and is part of Connecting Citizens to Science which focuses on health research based on equitable partnerships between researchers and communities.

If you would like to be a guest, co-host or have your own series designed for you, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We'd love to speak to you about your ideas!

In this week’s episode we hear from Nafisa Musa Isa, Deputy Director Family & Community Health, Kaduna State, Nigeria, and Dr. Olubunmi Akinboye, Director Public Health, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Nigeria. Together with co-host Lucy Nyaga, we discuss the community structures that are being considered within the Global Funded ‘Quality Improvement (QI) of integrated HIV, TB, and malaria services in Antenatal and Postnatal care (ANC and PNC)’ programme. We learn about the importance of including community members on Quality Improvement Teams, the mechanisms that have been used by the programme to drastically improve uptake of antenatal and postnatal services through integration, mentorship and training and the value of considering culture and needs in implementation research.  

Dr. Olubunmi Olufunmilola Ayinde

Director Public Health, Ministry of Health, Ibadan, Oyo State 

I am Dr. Olubunmi Ayinde a Public Health Physician and presently the Director Public Health at the Oyo State Ministry of Health. Over the past few years, I have worked in providing evidence-based, people-oriented, broad-based, purposeful, sustainable health care service delivery to strengthen Health Systems and ensure resilience; As well as leading cross-functional teams to consistently meet key program deliverables, while delivering efficient, affordable, accessible, effective and equitable services to the people across different communities. I coordinated the state HIV/AIDS program for over 12 years. I also had the opportunity to oversee malaria, tuberculosis (TB) and Reproductive Health activities which includes cervical cancer prevention (by screening for early detection across communities), ensuring testing for HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis in Antenatal care services. I presently lead the implementation of quality improvement with integration of HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria at the state level which was initially achieved by collaboration with AFENET, but is presently being achieved by collaboration with LSTM. I am also the coordination Pillar lead for COVID-19 in the State.  

I successfully administered different HIV surveys as well as Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) distribution across all communities in the State. Community participation and engagement of key community stakeholders was a major part of the process to ensure full participation, service utilization and sustainability. This also reflected in the different community outreach services conducted across the state such as cervical cancer screening for community women and civil servants, HIV testing for pregnant women with ensuring linkage to treatment and acceptance of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC).

Nafisatu Musa Isah

Deputy Director Family and Community services (in charge of Maternal and Child health division) Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board.

I am a registered Public health nurse by profession with a master’s degree in Reproductive Health, and a member of Public Health Nurses of Nigeria, member National Association of Nurses and Midwives of Nigeria. 

I also had professional Development certificates in: Leadership and Management in Global Health, Project Management in Global Health, Management Skills and Effective Leadership, Leadership Enhancement and accountability for Public sector, Health Financing, Health Economic and Public Health Policy also held the position of Chief Nursing officer in charge of 6 primary health care(PHCs) facilities in Kaduna State. I have attended 30 training/Workshops and carried out 5 research projects   

www.kdsg.gov.ng 

https//m.facebook.com/KSPHCA 

Twitter: @NafisatMusaIsah1, @contactkdsg, @mlgkad 

Lucy Nyaga

Country Director, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Kenya 

My name is Lucy Nyaga. I am the Country Director, Liverpool School of Tropical medicine, in Kenya. I have a background in Medical Anthropology and Public Health with extensive experience in promoting implementation of research results into policy and practice with a special focus on MNH.  With twenty years’ experience working in health programming, my experience and expertise in MNH has involved managing and implementing programmes that incorporate implementation research to inform effective programming and policy influence. Working with a range of organizations ranging from governments, academic and research institutions, UN agencies, and national & INGO, I have led and contributed to key MNH research that has led to policy influence in Eastern Africa. 

https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/lucy-nyaga 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-nkirote-2062832b/ 

TWITTER HANDLES 

@Lucynnyaga 

@MOH_Kenya

Read along to the transcript here

In this episode, the focus is on Tanzania. Together with co-host Lucy Nyaga, we have conversations with Dr Ahmad Makuwani, Assistant Director, Reproductive Health & Child Health, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Tanzania, Dr Leonard Katalambula, Head of Department of Public Health, University of Dodoma and Dr Rukia Bakar Rajab, Dean, School of Medicine, State University of Zanzibar. We discuss how the programme ‘Quality Improvement (QI) of integrated HIV, TB, and malaria services in Antenatal and Postnatal care (ANC and PNC)’ funded by the Global Fund and Takeda Pharmaceuticals uses a blended learning and master training approach to improve the skills, practice and attitudes of health workers within women and newborn health services. We hear how much community engagement is valued by the Ministry of Health and how the programme will ensure sustainability through partnerships with universities, multilevel health system and communities. 

Dr. Leonard Katalambula  

Dr. Leonard Katalambula is PhD holder in public health and head of public health department at the University of Dodoma. He has over 14 years’ experience in teaching research and consultancy related to public health. He is a project lead of the Quality Improvement for Integrated HIV, TB and Malaria Services during Antenatal and Postnatal care in Tanzania, The project is funded by Global Fund and implemented by LSTM, Ministry of Health and the University of Dodoma. Dr Katalambula is also a principal investigator of the project “Meals Education and Garden for School in Adolescents. He has been engaged in several implementation research including Effectiveness of letter and brochure and brochure to a male partner on increasing women’s uptake of cervical cancer screening in Bahi, Dodoma: A randomized controlled trial. Effectiveness of a community-based intervention (Konga model) in addressing the factors contributing to viral load suppression among children living with HIV in Tanzania: A cluster-randomized clinical trial study. Dr Katalambula is a champion of a youth club at the University of Dodoma whose main objective is to promote health among youths especially reproductive health. 

Dr. Rukia Rajab Bakar

Acting Dean, School of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Health and Medical Sciences, State University of Zanzibar (SUZA)

Connects research/implementation with people and communities is very important through working in partnership with policy makers, local leaders and communities. This will definitely improves the quality of maternal and new-born health care and reduce maternal morbidity or mortality in the community.

Lucy Nyaga

Country Director, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Kenya 

My name is Lucy Nyaga. I am the Country Director, Liverpool School of Tropical medicine, in Kenya. I have a background in Medical Anthropology and Public Health with extensive experience in promoting implementation of research results into policy and practice with a special focus on MNH.  With twenty years’ experience working in health programming, my experience and expertise in MNH has involved managing and implementing programmes that incorporate implementation research to inform effective programming and policy influence. Working with a range of organizations ranging from governments, academic and research institutions, UN agencies, and national & INGO, I have led and contributed to key MNH research that has led to policy influence in Eastern Africa. 

https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/lucy-nyaga 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-nkirote-2062832b/ 

TWITTER HANDLES 

@Lucynnyaga 

@MOH_Kenya 

Read along to the transcript here

In this week's episode co-host Lucy Nyaga, together with guests Amina Baraka, a Nursing Officer in charge of Vihiga County Referral hospital and Fatuma Iman, a Reproductive Health Coordinator in Garissa County discuss their involvement in the ‘Quality Improvement (QI) of integrated HIV, TB, and malaria services in Antenatal and Postnatal care (ANC and PNC)’ programme funded by the Global Fund with funding from Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The project is supporting 61 health facilities across 3 counties to provide capacity building, mentorship and to generate evidence to inform decision-making and policymaking to support improvements of maternal, new-born and child quality of care. 

Lucy Nyaga

Country Director, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Kenya 

My name is Lucy Nyaga. I am the Country Director, Liverpool School of Tropical medicine, in Kenya. I have a background in Medical Anthropology and Public Health with extensive experience in promoting implementation of research results into policy and practice with a special focus on MNH.  With twenty years’ experience working in health programming, my experience and expertise in MNH has involved managing and implementing programmes that incorporate implementation research to inform effective programming and policy influence. Working with a range of organizations ranging from governments, academic and research institutions, UN agencies, and national & INGO, I have led and contributed to key MNH research that has led to policy influence in Eastern Africa. 

https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/lucy-nyaga 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-nkirote-2062832b/ 

TWITTER HANDLES 

@Lucynnyaga 

@MOH_Kenya 

Amina Anyango Baraka

Nursing manager Vihiga County Referral Hospital

In Vihiga County Referral Hospital we offer a range of reproductive health services to the women and their families. These include antenatal care during pregnancy, intrapartum care, and postnatal care to include contraceptive use. 

Despite all these interventions, the data available still show that a large number of maternal and neonatal deaths occur during birth and 48 hours after. 

The major causes of the mortalities being hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and haemorrhage. The audits have showed that in many circumstances either there is delay in seeking the needed care or delay in the health facility to initiate the appropriate interventions. 

In this regard the provider ability to do correct diagnosis and intervene appropriately is key. Thus we regularly do training needs assessment to ascertain the provider gaps. In the community we hold dialogue days and verbal autopsies to determine the possible causes of ill health and mortalities and factors influence the uptake health services.

Fatuma Iman Maalim 

Mrs. Fatuma Iman Maalim holds a Master of Science Degree in Community Health & Development and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She has 35 solid years of experience working with the Ministry of Health - Kenya, 18 Years’ experience working in Maternal Newborn Health programme and 1 year in ANC/PNC programme. 

Mrs. Fatuma, is the County Reproductive Health Coordinator Garissa. She overseas and coordinates Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Gender Mainstreaming services in the entire county. She is a Master trainer, a Manager, a Mentor & a Decision maker. She is also the focal person of the World Bank’s Transforming Health Systems for Universal Care (THS-UC) Project. Before devolution Fatuma was the Provincial Reproductive Health Coordinator, covering the entire Garissa, Wajir and Mandera districts. Garissa County is among the most underdeveloped counties in Kenya, with the highest Maternal and Neonatal mortality burden of 646 out of 100,000 and 24 out of 1000 respectively (KDHS 2019). 

Personal Twitter handle - @fatmaimaan1 

Organisation Twitter handle - @garissahealth 

Articles – Core authored a cross – sectional study on “The determinants of staff retention after Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care training in Kenya.” BMC Health Services Research (2022) 22:872. https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-022-08253-2

Research Paper:- Knowledge, perceptions and practices on utilization of maternal waiting-homes among women of reproductive-age in Garissa township constituency Garissa County  (2018)

To listen to the audio along with the transcript click here

In this week’s episode we hear from Dr. Leonard Katalambula, the project lead of the ‘Quality Improvement for Integrated HIV, TB and Malaria Services during Antenatal and Postnatal care’ in Tanzania and

Dr Uzochukwu Egere, Senior Research Associate, Emergency Obstetric and Quality of Care Unit at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). Together with co-host Lucy Nyaga, Country Director at LSTM Kenya, our guests discuss the scope of implementation research under the Global Fund programme, the institutional research collaborations and capacity strengthening opportunities, and the benefits of the programme to communities. 

Lucy Nyaga

Country Director, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Kenya 

My name is Lucy Nyaga. I am the Country Director, Liverpool School of Tropical medicine, in Kenya. I have a background in Medical Anthropology and Public Health with extensive experience in promoting implementation of research results into policy and practice with a special focus on MNH.  With twenty years’ experience working in health programming, my experience and expertise in MNH has involved managing and implementing programmes that incorporate implementation research to inform effective programming and policy influence. Working with a range of organizations ranging from governments, academic and research institutions, UN agencies, and national & INGO, I have led and contributed to key MNH research that has led to policy influence in Eastern Africa. 

https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/lucy-nyaga 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-nkirote-2062832b/ 

HASHTAGS 

• Primary Hashtag: #KML_MNHQoC 
• Other Hashtags: #MaternalHealth #NewbornHealth #MNH #SDG3 
• #MNHCommunity #AcceleratingTogether #SavingLivesTogether #Antenatal 
• #Postnatal #MNH policy #EffectiveANC&PNC #EquityANC&PNC 

TWITTER HANDLES 

@Lucynnyaga 

@MOH_Kenya 

Dr Uzochukwu Egere

Senior Research Associate (M&E and Data management), Emergency Obstetric and Quality of Care Unit, Liverpool school of Tropical Medicine 

I am primarily a paediatrician with extensive research experience and interest in Implementation research and health systems strengthening in the areas of Maternal and Child health, Lung health and Tuberculosis. My work focusses on health and health systems challenges relevant to low-and middle-income settings and facilitates interactions between researchers and consumers of research outputs (the community) to ensure timely policy change and uptake of interventions. 

https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-uzochukwu-egere 

Dr. Leonard Katalambula  

Dr. Leonard Katalambula is PhD holder in public health and head of public health department at the University of Dodoma. He has over 14 years’ experience in teaching research and consultancy related to public health. He is a project lead of the Quality Improvement for Integrated HIV, TB and Malaria Services during Antenatal and Postnatal care in Tanzania, The project is funded by Global Fund and implemented by LSTM, Ministry of Health and the University of Dodoma. Dr Katalambula is also a principal investigator of the project “Meals Education and Garden for School in Adolescents. He has been engaged in several implementation research including 'Effectiveness of letter' and 'brochure' and 'brochure to a male partner' on increasing women’s uptake of cervical cancer screening in Bahi, Dodoma: A randomized controlled trial. Effectiveness of a community-based intervention (Konga model) in addressing the factors contributing to viral load suppression among children living with HIV in Tanzania: A cluster-randomized clinical trial study. Dr Katalambula is a champion of a youth club at the University of Dodoma whose main objective is to promote health among youths, especially reproductive health. 

This week’s episode features Philip Ode, a Programme Officer/Mental Health Focal Point from CBM Global Disability Inclusion, Nigeria and Tarry Asoka, a consultant in health and development. Together with co-host Tosin Adekeye, they discuss the development and delivery of an essential care package for integration of mental health and Neglected Tropical Diseases, including how communities and people affected have been involved. 

Dr. Oluwatosin Adekeye

Assistant Director of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry Ahmadu Bello University Hospital Zaria Kaduna

A social scientist with varied experience in both clinical and research aspects of health among communities in Northern Nigeria. As a Clinical Psychologist, his work has been both on mental and behavioral disorders and the effects of chronic disease on the well-being of patients and caregivers. As a Social Scientist, he just concluded a study that documented the well-being of people with stigmatizing skin diseases and established a care and support group within the community. More recently he is working on developing a well-being tool for parents and children with disability. 

Twitter: @TosinOluw, @Sightsavers

Tarry Asoka

Consultant in Health & Development , Independent Consultant 

Tarry Asoka is a Medical Doctor with advanced training and qualifications in Health, Population and Nutrition, as well as Social Science Research. Besides providing technical assistance in number of health and health related areas, he is passionate about testing and implementing ‘models of care’ - service delivery reforms that re-organise health service around people’s needs and expectations. In particular, Tarry has a keen interest in organisational innovations within the health system that demonstrate competency in managing and delivering care for specific groups (such as persons with chronic health conditions) or whole population characterised by a combination of four essential elements: providing the right service, in the right setting, by the right person, using the right processes.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarry-asoka-401008175/  

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/race-onhow-community-health-being-integrated-primary-care-tarry-asoka/?trackingId=6M%2FpXWSKQi6b6hP1OM7uQw%3D%3D  

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/re-imagining-community-health-global-south-tarry-asoka/ 

Asoka, T. (2016a) Imagining a new future for healthcare services in Nigeria. Africa Health (Nigeria Edition). 38 (3): 6 - 8 http://africa-health.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/AH-Nigeria.pdf 

Asoka, T. (2016b) Feasibility of Managed Clinical Networks in Nigeria: a case of policy transfer to less advanced settings. [Doctoral thesis] Keele: Keele University http://eprints.keele.ac.uk/2368/1/AsokaDBA2016.pdf 

Philip Ode

Programme Officer/Mental Health Focal Point, CBM Global Disability Inclusion, Nigeria 

Philip is an experienced social development worker, specialising in projects/programmes management focused on inclusive community development and the public health concerns of marginalized and underserved populations. He has a strong grounding in project management, having worked consistently in the development space for 15 years. He is an expert in the design and implementation management of health and social development programmes that promote inclusion of marginalized communities in low resource settings. 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-ode-35568360/ 
• Information systems for global mental health https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(15)00097-8/fulltext 
• Partnership for the implementation of mental health policy in Nigeria: A case study of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Programme in Benue State https://ijmhs.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13033-020-00344-z 
• Depression and Experience of Incarceration in North Central Nigeria: A Situation Analysis at Makurdi Medium Security Prison https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-25721/v1  

Twitter: @PhilOde, @CBM_Global, @CBMuk, @CBMAustralia, @julian_eaton, @gracekryan 

This episode features Emerson Rogers, the NTD case management lead in the Ministry of Health Liberia and Eric Whey, the mental health and psychosocial coordinator for Grand Bassa County Health Team, Liberia. Together they discuss how Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and mental health services are being integrated at the primary health care level and the importance of advocating for sustained services for tackling mental health more generally. Tosin Adekeye, our co-host for this series discusses the cultural, logistical and community aspects that are being considered and the lessons that could be applied in other similar contexts. 

Dr. Oluwatosin Adekeye

Assistant Director of Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry Ahmadu Bello University Hospital Zaria Kaduna

A social scientist with varied experience in both clinical and research aspects of health among communities in Northern Nigeria. As a Clinical Psychologist, his work has been both on mental and behavioral disorders and the effects of chronic disease on the well-being of patients and caregivers. As a Social Scientist, he just concluded a study that documented the well-being of people with stigmatizing skin diseases and established a care and support group within the community. More recently he is working on developing a well-being tool for parents and children with disability. 

Twitter: @TosinOluw, @Sightsavers

Eric T. Weah

Mental Health and Psychosocial support pillar lead for EBOLA and the COVID 19 RESPONSE, lecturer at the Grand Bassa Community College. 

The mental health department (MHD) is part of the community health department and works with programs to consider a more holistic biopsychosocial approach. This approach seeks to look at the psychological impact that a condition will have on an individual, the family, the community and society at large. It also provides services for the vulnerable groups such as people living with disability, those in prison and at-risk youth. The mental health department also developed the user group and collaborative approach with faith based organisation, traditional healers and religious leaders to help in improve mental health care. The MHD also works with the Community Health Focal persons to ensure community health workers identify, follow up and refer cases to service delivery point for management.

Emerson Rogers

National Coordinator for Case Management of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

Management Committee member- REDRESS 

Ministry of Health, Liberia 

Mr Emerson Rogers has a key role in the Management Committee of REDRESS providing ongoing guidance and support as the National Coordinator for Case Management NTDs in Liberia. 

He manages the coordination of all Case Management, project planning, implementation, supervision, research, and timely reporting of progress. Enforcing strategies to ensure adherence to timely interventions for NTDs. Emerson has 14 years’ experience working as a Ministry of Health clinician in Liberia in several hospitals.  He served as Clinical Coordinator at the National Ebola Treatment Unit and served as Master Trainer Team Lead for Keep Safe Keep Serving. Emerson served as National Program Director for the Men’s Health Screening Program- MOH between 2015-2017. He worked alongside WHO and CDC UK and was responsible for conducting Real Time PCR testing of the semen of Ebola survivors to determine it contained fragments of the virus and therefore help to get a better understanding of the persistence of the virus in the semen of male survivors. 

Twitter: @redress_liberia 

In this week’s episode we hear from two community health workers about the work they have been doing to improve mental health services for people affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) as part of the REDRESS programme in Liberia. Satta Sonnie Kollie in Lofa County, Liberia is a community health services supervisor and peer researcher; and Harrison Wenjor in Grand Gedeh, Liberia is the focal person for TB and people affected by NTDs. They discuss the importance of using local dialect, and being a trusted member of the community, especially when talking about mental health and providing counselling to people affected by chronic health conditions.

Satta Sonnie Kollie 

Community health services supervisor and coresearcher, Government of Liberia – Lofa County/REDRESS 

I am Satta Sonnie Kollie from Lofa County, Liberia. I am Community health services supervisor and coresearcher. I am responsible to supervise the Community health assistants under clinic, give health education to our people in the communities, increasing facility delivery and also making our various communities to know the importance of their good health. 

D. Harrison Wenjor

Former Focal Person for TB, Grand Gedeh, Formerly Government of Liberia – Grand Gedeh County/REDRESS 

D. Harrison Wenjor has spent many decades working in community health in Grand Gedeh. He worked as the focal person for TB and has worked closely with people affected by various neglected tropical diseases. He is passionate about community health and improving access to health, particularly for the most marginalised. 

https://www.redressliberia.org/ 

Twitter: @REDRESS_Liberia 

Transcript available here

In this week's episode we hear from Emmanuel Zaizay who is a peer researcher in the REDRESS programme and is affected by Buruli Ulcer, a neglected tropical disease. He shares with us the value of learning new skills, through becoming a co-researcher, which has helped him better connect with his community and contribute to the improvement of medical and psychosocial services for people living with NTDs. 

Emmanuel Zaizay

Co-researcher, REDRESS

I am Emmanuel Zaizay from Lofa County, Voinjama District. I work with REDRESS as a coresearcher and I was recruited as a patient affected person as I was diagnosed with Buruli ulcer. I also serve as a data collector, I work in photovoice settings and participatory methods such as bodymapping and focus group discussions. Currently, I am with the coresearcher team in Lofa County. 

https://www.redressliberia.org/  

Twitter: @REDRESS_Liberia

Fasseneh Zeela Zaizay

REDRESS Country Director, Actions Transforming Lives/REDRESS

Mr Fasseneh Zeela Zaizay serves as the Liberian Country Program Manager for REDRESS, providing overall management for the project in Liberia. Zeela holds B.Sc. in Nursing (Magna Cum Laude), master’s in public health, Diploma of Advanced Studies in Health Care Management, and certificate in monitoring and evaluation. Zeela co-designed Cuttington University’s clinical outreach program and served as its coordinator as well as lectured nursing for 7 years. Before joining REDRESS, he served as the Liberian Country Director of MAP International and Technical Assistant to the Ministry of Health. In those roles, he engaged in strengthening the Liberian health system, supporting the integration of NTDs into the health system, and conducting research on health system strengthening and NTDs. He is a co-creator of the Liberian Strategic Plan for the Integrated Management of NTDS. He is a co-founder of Actions Transforming Lives, a registered Liberian charity and partner on REDRESS also providing financial and technical support to the Ministry of Health NTDs Program, as well as giving less fortunate communities access to safe water and improved livelihoods. 

https://www.redressliberia.org/about-us/people/actions-transforming-lives/fasseneh-zeela-zaizay/ 

Twitter: @REDRESS_Liberia 

Twitter: @FZZaizay 

In this thoroughly engaging episode, we hear from Dr.Steven Watiti who works for  Mildmay Uganda, a leading HIV and AIDS service organisation, about living and aging with HIV and AIDS. Steven shares his story of family life, courage, loss, survival, learning, and advocacy. He speaks about the importance of mental health support and social capital when living with a lifelong health condition and calls for others to respond.  

Dr Steven Watiti

Patient representative on Respond-Africa Partnership

After studying Medicine at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, Dr. Watiti, was a medical officer, Rubaga Hospital, Kampala from 1985-1988. He practiced medicine privately from 1988-2004 at Entebbe Road clinic and JOY Medical Centre Ndeeba, Kampala. From 2004, he has been working at Mildmay Uganda, a leading HIV and AIDS service organisation. An HIV activist and ardent advocate for improved and sustainable health for all, Dr. Watiti believes with hindsight that he acquired HIV between 1985 and 1986 while working as a junior medical officer. In 2000, he began ARVs after contracting tuberculosis, cancer (Kaposi’s sarcoma), and meningitis. In 2006, he started his weekly column on HIV in New Vision, Uganda’s leading daily newspaper. His column appears Mondays under the heading: “Towards zero: with Doctor Watiti”. He has published two books on HIV: “HIV and AIDS: 100 Commonly Asked Questions” and “Conquering HIV and AIDS: My personal experience of living with HIV”. Dr Waititi works with the Respond Africa partnership as an expert patient ensuring that patient needs, views and voices are heard and considered and addressed when designing and implementing research projects. 

Twitter: @WatitiStephen 

https://inteafrica.org/ 

Dr. Rhona Mijumbi-Deve

Dr. Rhona Mijumbi-Deve is a senior lecturer of public policy at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and heads the Policy Unit at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research Programme in Blantyre, Malawi. Rhona trained as a medical doctor and later as a Clinical Epidemiologist and Biostatistician, and health policy analyst. She has spent the past decade doing health systems and policy research. Her special interest is in exploring the nexus of evidence, and policy and decision-making processes, especially in low- and middle-income countries. She especially is interested in understanding this in the contexts of emergencies, health security and health diplomacy.