Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance
People
Ana Abílio
Ana Paula Abílio is the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance PhD Student Candidate on Rift Valley fever The title of the research work is “Entomological Characterization and Biology of Transmission of Rift Valley Fever registered at Eduardo Mondlane University, Faculty of Medicine.
Abílio holds a University degree in Biology from the Eduardo Mondlane University and a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Liverpool, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.
She has experience in surveillance and vector born disease control particularly for malaria. She conducted various studies with various international organizations and supervised undergraduate and Master students. She is currently the Acting Chief of Medical Entomologist for the National Institute of Health in Mozambique. .more
Yolan Banda
Mr Yolan Banda is the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) MSc student in One Health Analytical Epidemiology at the University of Zambia in the School of Veterinary Medicine The title of the research work is “Mathematical modeling of Yersinia Pestis transmission in Namwala district of southern province of Zambia. Mr Banda holds a Bachelors degree in mathematics and statistics (BSc) from the University of Zambia and a masters degree in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in the United States. He has vast experience in data management and analysis.
He has conducted various consultancies and research with various organizations both local and international. He has also taught biostatistics in different colleges, universities and institutions. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Zambia in the department of Public Health. His major interest is to combine his public health knowledge with the one health analytic epidemiology to help come up with solutions in the modern challenges in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, natural disasters like floods and other challenges..more
Eric Beda
Prof Joe Brownlie
Smart Partnership - veterinary research and training mentorship
Prof Brownlie: Emeritus Prof Pathology, RVC, University of London and Chair Board of Trustees, UK Institute for Animal Health;
Dr. Zablon Bugwesa
Dr Bugwesa Zablon Katale (BVM, MSc, PhD candidate), a Wildlife Veterinarian and Research officer works with Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) He obtained his undergraduate degree in Veterinary Medicine (BVM) from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in 2002 and MSc in Medical Parasitology and Entomology from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College (KCM-College) of Tumaini University in 2008.
In 2004, he participated in dangerous drug course at Heredzi, Malilangwe, organized by Zimbabwe Veterinary Association and received certificate in physical and chemical restraint of wild animals. He attended a course in molecular diagnostic techniques for African swine fever virus (ASFV) course, Entebbe Uganda, organized by International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and CISA, INIA Madrid, Spain in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. In 2011, he attended a course titled NRN-BIOMED CPD Research Methodology and Writing Skills of Competetive Grant Winning Proposals at The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, SUA – Morogoro, Tanzania
Previoulsy, he worked with Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) under TANAPA’s Wildlife Veterinary Unit as Zonal Wildlife Veterinary Officer for northern zone (Serengeti and Rubondo Islands National Parks) from 2003 to 2006. In 2008 to 2010 he worked with TAWIRI-Messerli Foundation Wildlife Veterinary Programme as a Wildlife Veterinarian.
Dr Bugwesa Z Katale is currently registered as a PhD candidate at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania sponsored by Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases Surveillance (SACIDS) under Wellcome Trust grant. His research is titled Genetic and ecological drivers of tuberculosis at human-livestock-wildlife interface of the Serengeti ecosystem with emphasis in cross transmission of tuberculosis in human, livestock and wildlife. Specifically the study will be focusing on determining the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and risk factors for TB transmission in human and animals, genotyping the tuberculosis and non tuberculosis isolates from human and animals and determining the resistance patterns to antituberculosis drugs with reference to Mycobacterium strains and type of tuberculosis.
He is the member of Tanzania Veterinary Association (TVA). He has attended several scientific conferences with publications in international journals. His goal is to continue monitor zoonotic diseases in protected areas of Tanzania with emphasis of tuberculosis that is a contributing factor for poor human health and poverty. .more
Dr Katendi Changula
Dr Katendi Changula is a lecturer in the Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zambia She has a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Zambia and an MSc from the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. She was awarded a scholarship from the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Cooperation for an MSc in Tropical Animal Health, with an emphasis on diagnosis and control. She is currently studying for her PhD under the SACIDS/Wellcome Trust sponsorship.
Her PhD research is on the production of a diagnostic tool for early, rapid detection of Filovirus infections. She has received additional funding for this study from Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on Infectious Diseases (J-GRID), under the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)..more
Ricky Chazya
Ricky Chazya is a Master of Science degree student in One Health Analytical Epidemiology at the University of Zambia, Department of Disease Control, sponsored by Southern African Center for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) His research interests are directed at Infectious diseases in Africa with a strong interest in Risk Assessment, Risk Mapping, Disease Surveillance, and Research Study designs. The objective of his current research work is to quantify the risk of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) introduction from Southern Tanzania into Northern Zambia through trade in small livestocks as well as to map the risk and identify possible routes of entry of the disease. This research will identify critical pathways for PPR entry into the country and identify mitigation measures in managing the risk as well as informing decision makers such as the government, regional bodies such as SADC and COMESA, FAO, OIE, and other stakeholders. This risk assessment will also form a basis of similar work in future.
Research Topic: PPR Introduction into Northern Zambia via trade: a Quantitative Risk Assessment and Risk Mapping Study.more
Chanda Chitala
Dr Chanda Chitala is a Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance sponsored student at the University of Zambia pursuing a Masters degree in One Health Analytical Epidemiology
She holds a University degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Zambia. She has experience in treatment and diagnosis of small and large animal diseases as she has worked for various veterinary clinics. She is currently an employee of the government of Zambia in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock at the Central Veterinary Research Institute where she is holding the post of Veterinary Research officer. She is under the parasitology laboratory where diagnosis and research of parasitic diseases affecting animals or humans is carried out. .more
Prof Koos Coetzer
Co-convener postgraduate taught and distance learning programmes (MSc and CDPs)
Head Dept Tropical Diseases, FVS-UP, South Africa
Dr George Dautu
Dr George Dautu is a Post doctoral Research fellow at the University of Zambia (UNZA) which is affiliated to the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) group of Universities. He obtained a doctor of Philosophy degree in Veterinary Sciences from Gifu University, Japan in 2008 and also Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Zambia in 1998. He is currently doing his Rift Valley Fever (RVF) research under the SACIDS RVF Community of Practice comprising of young researchers from Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Zambia.
His major research interest is to isolate and characterise the Rift Valley Fever Viruses that might be circulating in domestic and wild animals, humans and mosquitoes in Zambia during the interepidemic period. He is also interested in building capacity in the rapid detection and surveillance of RVF thereby improving the understanding of the mechanisms underlying its transmission, evolution and control. Currently he is doing serological screening of the sera samples obtained from the identified study areas.
Positive results have been obtained so far and these results are being used to map up the RVF high risk areas. The next step will be to carryout viral isolation and subsequent molecular characterization of the spatially selected RVFV isolates. His Mentors are Professor Aaron S. Mweene (University of Zambia), Professor Janusz Paweska (National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa), Professor Phelix Majiwa (ARC-Onderspoort Veterinary Institute, Republic of South Africa) and Dr. Robert Noad (Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom)..more
Prof Hazel Dockrell
Smart Partnership - medical research and training mentorship
Professor of Immunology and Deputy Director (Research), responsible for co-ordinating the LSHTM's research programmes overseas, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), University of London, UK
Prof Julie Fitzpatrick
Prof Louise Gresham
Dr. Bernard Hang'ombe
I am Bernard Mudenda Hang’ombe a postdoctoral Researcher from the University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine I am a Microbiologist with strict bias to Bacteriology. I have worked and continue to work with rare bacteria organisms. Currently I am working with Yersinia pestis and other bacteria organisms such as Salmonella, Clostridia and Bacillus anthracis. The main theme of my work is to understand the ecology and pathogenicity of bacteria organisms in the natural environment especially during outbreak periods. To enhance this study, molecular tools are fully applied in the diagnosis and identification of these pathogens. The study will certainly contribute to the understanding of sporadic disease outbreaks in the natural environments of Africa.
Research Theme: Isolation and Molecular characterization of Yersina pestis from Rodents, Humans, Small Carnivores and Fleas in Southern Africa.more
Martin Haule
Martin HAULE is a Laboratory Scientist and Master of Science in plague student by research at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied sciences (MUHAS), School of Medicine He holds a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Sciences of Muhimbili University of Health and Allied sciences (MUHAS).
Previous Research
His previous study was asymptomatic and symptomatic Bacteriuria in diabetic woman and susceptibility pattern in diabetic unity at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, and the research that led to a Bachelor Degree.
Current Research
Martin HAULE joined SACIDS (The Southern Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance) under Welcome Trust in December 2011. His function as a Master of Sciences in plague by research student is to conduct molecular identification and assessment of Yersinia pestis strains in fleas of Mbulu district, in Tanzania.
Publication
1. Lyamuya E.F, Moyo. S.J, Komba E.V. and Haule M. Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and associated risk factors for bacteriuria in diabetic women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. African Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 5(6), pp. 683-689, 18 March, 2011.
Title: Molecular identification and assessment of Yersinia pestis strains in fleas of Mbulu district, in Tanzania.more
Mercy Joachim
Sonia Joseph
Onesmo Kahatano
Prof Dominic Kambarage
Deputy Director (Animal Health)
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), SUA, Tanzania
Kelvin Kampamba
Dr Kelvin. M. Kampamba is one of the Southern Africa Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) students registered with the University of Zambia, faculty of Veterinary Medicine undertaking an Masters degree in One Health Analytical Epidemiology (Msc OHAE).
Holder of a Bachelors Degree in Veterinary Medicine (1995) from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zambia and works for the Department of Veterinary Services as a Veterinary Officer (Field Services). He has worked for the Department for the 14 years. He worked as House Surgeon (Pathology) in Para- clinical Department (UNZA) 1996 – 1998. The Current position is District Veterinary officer, Undertaking the provision of Animal health Services, Livestock Extension, Monitoring public health matters and general administration of departmental matters. Acted as District Agriculture Coordinator. Coordinating Agricultural activities i.e. crops, livestock, fisheries and cooperative development. Participated as the departmental monitor in wildlife research on African wild dog conservation (AWDC) and wild felids in the South Luangwa and Luambe National Parks respectively. Currently has embarked on adding a new dimension to his career by getting aligned with the One health fraternity, an endeavor “To think outside the Box”. There is Room For All Creatures, “Great and Small” on Earth!
The research focus is;
“Determination of Associated Risk Factors and Prevalence, Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in the Control of Tungiasis in Endemic Communities in the Eastern Province of Zambia”.
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Dr Esron Karimuribo
Representing research apprentices
Prof Njeng Kariuki
Dr Christopher Kasanga
Christopher Jacob Kasanga, PhD
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Morogoro, Tanzania
Research Theme:
Epidemiological and molecular determinants of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) endemicity in Southern Africa
Profile:
I am Christopher Jacob Kasanga, a SACIDS-WT Postdoctoral Research Fellow from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sokoine University of Agriculture I am a Virologist with strong bias on molecular biology, biotechnology and epidemiology of viral infections and viruses. Currently, I am working on Aphthoviruses, Birnaviruses, and other emerging and re-emerging viruses that cause diseases of economic and food security importance. The main theme of my on-going research is to elucidate epidemiological and molecular determinants of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) endemicity in Southern Africa. To augment this research, virological and cutting-edge molecular techniques are employed. The findings of this research will unravel geographical distribution, genetic and antigenic diversity of circulating FMDV strains, epidemiological and molecular determinants of FMD endemicity, and evolutionary characteristics of the field strains. This information is useful in designing and recommending the rational FMD control strategy in Southern and East Africa. This work is being undertaken in collaboration with SADC Secretariat, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Botswana Vaccine Institute, University of Glasgow and the Pirbright Institute.
Mentors:
Prof. Philemon Wambura (Sokoine University of Agriculture), Prof. Mark Rweyemamu (Sokoine University of Agriculture), Prof. Donald King (Pirbright Institute), Prof. David Paton (Pirbright Institute), Prof. Joe Brownlie (Royal Veterinary College, University of London), Prof. Dirk Pfiffer (Royal Veterinary College, University of London) and Prof. Francois Maree (Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute).
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Prof Jean-Marie Kayembe
NatCIDS Coordinator - DRC
Deputy Dean, School Public Health, University of Kinshasa
Dr Kim Kayunze
Dr Kayunze is a social scientist with a background in livestock and crop production. He holds a PhD in Rural Development (2008), a Masters Degree in Rural Development (1998), and a Bachelors Degree in Agriculture (1995), all from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania.
He is a Senior Lecturer in Development Studies at the Development Studies Institute of Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania, and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in One Health Policy and Socio-Economic Impact of Infectious Diseases, with SACIDS. The title for his postdoctoral research is “Health Services against Infectious Diseases in the Southern African Region: Practices, One Health Approaches, Disease Burden and Poverty Linkages in Tanzania and Zambia”
He joined SACIDS in April 2011 and, while working with SACIDS, he has published a paper titled A socio-economic approach to One Health policy research in southern Africa in collaboration with A.D. Kiwara, E. Lyamuya, D.M. Kambarage, J. Rushton, R. Coker, R. Kock, and M.M. Rweyemamu in the ONDERSTEPOORT Journal of Veterinary Research, Supplement No. 3, Vol. 79 No. 2, 2012, which is available at www.ojvr.org.
Before joining SACIDS, he was mainly researching on poverty analysis and food security. His publication on these themes include Kayunze, K. A.; Urassa, J. K.; and Mwakalobo (2005). Credit enriching or impoverishing? Voices of credit recipients in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Development Studies 6 (2): 79-93 and Kayunze, K. A.; Mwageni, E. A.; and Ashimogo, G. C. (2007). Entitlement to food and food security in Rufiji District, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Development Studies (TJDS), 8 (2): 29 - 47..more
Dr Julius Keyyu
Wildlife Research convener
Director of Research, Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Tanzania
Dr Sharadhuli Kimera
Dr Pascal Lutumba
Dr Justin Masumu
For many years I worked in animal and health management After considering the need of knowledge improvement I made a soft shift into research. In 2006 I completed my PhD program at ITMA (Institute of Tropical Medicine of Antwerp) in collaboration with the University of Ghent. My field of expertise was until then “molecular epidemiology” of parasites mainly trypanosomes and its implication of disease impact on animal health and production. Currently I extended the approach to emerging infectious diseases with focus on viral hemorrhagic fevers under SACIDS postdoctoral program. My current program relates to the understanding of natural resistance to Ebola disease and the development of appropriate surveillance and response strategies against filovirus hemorrhagic fevers. Apart from research building, I also focus on developing young researchers. To achieve this, I conduct lectures to under and postgraduate students at UNIKIN and UPN in Kinshasa, DRC. I also have under my supervision several PhD and MSc students either from SACIDS or some of our national universities. .more
Prof Mecky Matee
NatCIDS Coordinator - Tanzania and Co-convener for Research Apprenticeship
Head Dept Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar es Salaam Tanzania
Mkama Mathias
Dr Mkama Mathias is the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) MSc by research Candidate on Foot and mouth disease (FMD) registered at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) under the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology in Tanzania. The title of the research work is on ‘‘Spatial and temporal distribution of Foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) serotypes in Tanzania’’.
Dr Mkama is a University graduate and holds a Bachelors
Degree in Veterinary Medicine from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). Currently, he is the Veterinary research officer at the Centre for infectious diseases and Biotechnology (CIDB) in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development.
Through that opportunity he has been collaboratively working with different international organisations and projects that support the Government of the United republic of Tanzania through Ministry of livestock and fisheries development towards disease surveillance, strategical control and trainings focused on capacity building (Training of Trainers) and general community awareness especially on Avian influenza, Newcastle disease and Foot and mouth disease. Also for several times, he has been actively involved in wildlife surveillance activities in Tanzania national parks and Game reserves. .more
Dr. Erasto Mbugi
Erasto MBUGI is a lecturer and postdoctoral researcher at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied sciences (MUHAS), School of Medicine He holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine of Sokoine University of Agriculture specializing in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Masters Level. Erasto holds a PhD in Nutritional Immunology.
Current Research under SACIDS
Erasto joined SACIDS (The Southern Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance) under Welcome Trust in September 2010. His primary function as a Postdoctoral researcher is to conduct molecular studies evaluating cross-species TB transmission in the Serengeti ecosystem. His study is aimed at linking epidemiological and genetic data in generating the profile of TB strain diversity and drug resistance across the southern Africa.
Title: Tuberculosis cross-species transmission, strain diversity and drug resistance at human-
animal interface.more
Prof Declan McKeever
Smart Partnership - veterinary research and training mentorship
Chair of Immunoparasitology and Head of the Pathology and Infectious Diseases Department, RVC
Athanas Mhina
Athanas Mhina holds a BSc (Hons) in Zoology and Applied Microbiology from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He is working with the National Institute for Medical Research as a Research Scientist.
Athanas is currently an MPhil apprentice (working on Rift Valley fever) under the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) registered at the faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro Tanzania. His area of study is on the molecular epidemiology of Rift Valley fever virus in which he will be looking at the transmission dynamics of Rift Valley fever virus in Ngorongoro District, Northern Tanzania. His research study is expected to come out with an informative molecular epidemiological data that will be combined with climatological data to contribute in the prediction of Rift Valley fever occurrence and subsequent vaccine development plans. Athanas is a researcher who is eager to get new scientific abilities and skills, a quick learner and hard worker..more
Gaby Monteiro
Dr Gaby Monteiro is a Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases Surveillance (SACIDS) PhD Candidate on Rift Valley fever virus. The title of the research work is “Molecular Basis for the Rift Valley Fever virus virulence”. She is registered at the Department of Veterinary tropical diseases of the Faculty of Veterinary sciences, University of Pretoria with collaboration of the National Institute of Communicable diseases of the National Health laboratory service (NICD-NHLS), South Africa.
Dr. Monteiro holds a University degree in Veterinary Medicine from the “Universidade Eduardo Mondlane” in Mozambique and a Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine (Animal Pathology) from the “Universidade Stadia Paulette”, São Paulo, Brazil. She has experience in animal pathology with emphasis on diagnostic of avian, mammalian and wildlife diseases. He has also experience on immunopatlology where she develops research on tick –host interface. She has two publications: Antigen-presenting cells in draining lymph nodes of goats repeatedly infested by the Cayenne tick Amblyomma cajennense nymphs. Exp Appl Acarol (2010). And cutaneous basophilia in the resistance of goats to Amblyomma cajennense nymphs after repeated infestations. Animal Biodiversity and Emerging Diseases: Ann.NY.Acad.Sci. 1149:221-228 (2008).
Dr. Monteiro lectures Anatomical Pathology, Histology and Embryology to undergraduate students at the “Universidade Eduardo Mondlane”. She is currently acting as head of the Paraclinical division at the Veterinary Faculty and member of the Ethic committee of “Universidade Eduardo Mondlane”..more
Dr. Sabue Mulangu
Prof Luke Mumba
Prof Tony Musoke
Convener for South African institutions and Co-convener for Research Apprenticeship
Head, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (ARC-OVI) and FAO/OIE Regional Ref Labs, South Africa
Mpoki Mwabukusi
Dr Aaron Mweene
NatCIDS Coordinator, NatCIDS - Zambia
Dean School Vet Med, University of Zambia (UNZA), Lusaka, Zambia
Filomena Namuba
SACIDS One Health Epidemiologist responsible to the Executive Director for day-to-day management of SACIDS Secretariat
Dr Luis Neves
NatCIDS Coordinator - Mozambique
Director Inter-Faculty Biotech Centre, UEM, Maputo
Nganga Nkanga
Dr Nganga Nkanga is the Southern African Centre for infectious Disease Surveillance MSC Research Student on filovirus
The title of research work is “Characterizations of tissue tropism of Marburg and Ebola in portative reservoirs registered at the University of Kinshasa, faculty of Medicine, DRC.
Dr. Nganga holds an honors degree in Medical Biology, Biology clinical option and a Certificate in Transfusion Safety infectious Pasteur Institute in France. She is head of the Laboratory of Hematology clinics University of Kinshasa (CUK) and interest, near filovirus, the diagnosis of hematological malignancies. It is in this context that she has conducted training at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg/ Leuven, Belgium. She has also worked as a consultant with the NGO ICAP (Centers for International Programs, Mailman Public Health of Columbia University, New York) which bears some hospitals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in support HIV. This NGO is under the supervision of CDC Kinshasa / DRC.
Currently, she is also responsible for the quality of service assurance cell biology Clinic Universities of Kinshasa (CUK). She is a member of the American Association of Microbiology, the French society of Clinical Biology and the National League of fight against cancer (LINAC)..more
secky Nyakunga
Sulani Nyimbili
Dr Sulani Nyimbili is a Zambian veterinarian aged 29 who is currently working as a district veterinary officer in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics in 2008 at the Central University ‘Marta Abreu’ of Las Villas, Santa Clara, Cuba.
He was later awarded a scholarship in 2011 by the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance to study an MSc program in One Health Analytical Epidemiology at the Samora Machel School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia. His MSc research is on epidemiology and spatial analysis of Rift Valley Fever in Zambia and is been supervised by Dr Martin Simuunza (University of Zambia), Professor Aaron Mweene (University of Zambia) and Dr George Dautu (Central Veterinary Research Institute, Zambia). This research will assist establish the actual epidemiology of Rift Valley Fever in Zambia especially that no outbreaks have been reported for over two decades..more
Prof Onesmo Ole-MoiYoi
Prof Julian Parkhill
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Prof Janusz Paweska
Deputy Director (Human Health),
Head, Special Pathogen Unit, NICD, Johannesburg, South Africa
Prof Adrian Puren
Gabasenye Raletobana
Dr Raletobana is a Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases Surveillance (SACIDS) Msc Candidate in One Health Analytical Epidemiology,( Foot and Mouth disease virus). The title of the research work is “Sero-Prevalence and Risk factor of Foot and Mouth disease in goats in the North West and North East of Botswana”.
Dr. Raletobana holds a University degree in Veterinary Medicine from the “The University of the West Indies” in Trinidad and Tobago. She has experience in Food safety (Public Health).
Dr. Raletobana is currently a government employee at Veterinary office at The Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory..more
Prof Mark Rweyemamu
Mark is the Executive Director of the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS)
Dr. Raphael Sallu
Raphael Sallu is a Principal Livestock Research Officer; he is working with the Centre for Infectious Diseases and Biotechnology (CIBD) at Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency (TVLA) He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture General at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). He has an MSc in Molecular Biology which he obtained from (SUA). Also and he was awarded a post graduate Diploma scholarship in molecular Biology from the Germany government. In 2010 he was awarded a PhD scholarship by SACIDS through the Wellcome Trust Foundation. The PhD study involves the phylogeography study of the existence Foot and Mouth Virus serotypes in Tanzania. The PhD work is done both at CIDB and SUA Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology. In this work the mentorship is from Royal Veterinary collage and Animal Health Institute-Pirbright in Uk. Other collaborative smart partners are BBSRC, SADC-TADs and The Government of Tanzania..more
Tinginya Sikombe
Mr Tingiya Sikombe is the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance MSc candidate on Foot and Mouth Disease. The title of the research work is Spatial and temporal sero-survey of the distribution of foot and mouth disease virus serotypes in Southern Zambia; registered at the University of Zambia, School of Veterinary Medicine.
Mr. Sikombe holds a University degree in Biomedical Sciences from University of Zambia. He holds a Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology from Evelyn Hone College, Zambia; and certificate in Animal Health and Laboratory Techniques from Zambia Institute of Animal health, Zambia and Certificate in Laboratory Techniques for Animal virology and Serology from Azabu University, Japan.
He is currently the Senior Research Scientist working at Central Veterinary Research Institute in the Veterinary Department, which involves undertaking effectively Veterinary research and animal disease diagnosis programmes in virology in order to generate information and develop technologies for viral disease identification and control.
He has vast experience in diagnostics; Analysis of FMDV using 3 ABC ELISA and LPBE for the detection of NSP and SP antibodies respectively. He serves as Chief Scientific Investigator; IAEA contract No. 16234; Control of FMD in Zambia..more
Dr Calvin Sindatu
Dr Calvin Sindato is an Epidemiologist with Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR). He holds the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Masters of Preventive Veterinary Medicine of Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) Tanzania.
He is currently a PhD candidate at SUA under the SACIDSWellcome Trust Fellowship. His PhD work is focusing on the Rift Valley Fever risk mapping and geospatial modelling in Tanzania.
The key research question d riving his PhD study is: “What are the risk factors that contribute to RVF occurrence in Tanzania and how to improve contingency plans, modelling and forecasting for strategic prevention initiatives?” His vision is to contribute to the modelling and forecasting of the occurrence of this climate dependant disease and strategic implementation of the control initiatives to prevent occurrence and burden associated with this disease in human and animal
population both at national and regional levels. Internally Calvin is working under the mentorship of Prof. Esron Karimuribo (main supervisor) of Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania and Dr. Leonard E.G. Mboera (advisor) of NIMR, Tanzania.
Externally Calvin is mentored by Prof. Dirk Pfeiffer of The Royal Veterinary College, UK and Prof. Janusz T. Paweska of The National Institute for Communicable Diseases South Africa. Under support of the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) and Tanzania National Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (NAtCIDS) Calvin was the National convener for cross-project Community of Practice for research on RVF in Tanzania. In addition Calvin is the member of the Regional (SADC-TADs) RVF working group, the Scientific Editor for NIMR Tabora Research Centre Tanzania, member of NIMR laboratory advisory committee and reviewer for one of health research journals in Tanzania..more
Dr. Yona Sinkala
Dr Yona Sinkala is a PhD Candidate embarking on research within Foot and Mouth disease theme for Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance
The title of his research work is “Epidemiology of Foot and Mouth Disease Endemicity in Zambia”. He is registered at the University of Zambia School Of Veterinary Medicine with collaboration from the Royal Veterinary College. Dr Sinkala holds a University degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Zambia and a Masters Degree in Veterinary Epidemiology from the University of London Jointly offered by the Royal Veterinary College and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Dr Sinkala works for the Ministry of livestock and Fisheries Development and has been actively involved in disease surveillance for trans-boundary animal diseases in particularl foot and mouth disease, contagious bovine pleura pneumonia and avian influenza. In 2009 he carried out a consultancy with the ILRI EDRS-AIA (Early detection, reporting and surveillance – Avian Influenza in Africa) Project on Zambia Poultry Sector Study Risk Mapping Activity. Dr Sinkala also lectures Animal Health..more
Dr George Tshilenge
Dr Curé Georges Tshilenge Mbuyi, PhD Student
Home Institution: University Of Kinshasa / Drc: School Of Public Health -Faculty Of Medicine Research Topic: "Immunogeno Protection Mechanism of Rift Valley Fever In Drc"
The general objective of this project is to contribute to the understanding of the host immune response mechanism including protective effect upon immunization against RVF virus infection. The following studied will be conducted:
Evaluate the immunological protection against RVF in vaccinated and non vaccinated cattle herds in the North of Katanga.
Assess the immunegeno protective effect of Clone 13 and Inactivated Rift Valley Fever Vaccine in cattle.
Compare the cellular response including macrophage activities between vaccinated and experimentally infected animals..more
Seche Tumbo
Prof Jeff Waage
Special Member
Director LIDC responsible for Coordination of SACIDS UK activities
Prof Philemon Wambura
Co-convener postgraduate taught programmes (MSc and CDPs)
Dean FVM-SUA, Tanzania
Ms Delille Wessel
Convener for Biosafety and Quality Management in SACIDS consortium laboratories
Head, Quality Assurance Management, Onderstepoort Vet Institute, South Africa
Michael Ziwa
Michael Ziwa is a Public Veterinarian at Bahi District Council-Dodoma, Tanzania He holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). He is currently a MSc. Research student in the field of plague at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), school of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
Research Focus and Sponsorship
Michael Ziwa is sponsored by the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS). His study focuses on detection of Yersinia pestis in rodents (wild and commensal), wild small carnivores, humans and other potential sources using Real-Time PCR, and sequencing of the positive PCR products in order to establish the relevant strain(s) of the bacterium responsible for disease causation in Mbulu District and possibly elsewhere in Tanzania.
Research Title: Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction detection and molecular characterization of Yersinia pestis in Mbulu District-Tanzania
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SACIDS Partnerships
Democratic Republic of Congo
National Coordinator – Professor Jean-Marie Kayembe Ntumba, Associate Dean, Faculty of Medicine Institute of Public Health Kinshasa
The Institute of Public Health of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Kinshasa.
National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB)
The Central Veterinary Laboratory in Kinshasa
National Institute for Nature Conservation (ICCN)
Mozambique
National Coordinator – Dr Luis Neves, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Eduardo Mondlane University
Faculty of Medicine - Eduardo Mondlane University (FM-EMU)
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine – Eduardo Mondlane University (FVM-EMU)
Directorate of Animal Sciences – Institute of Agricultural Research of Mozambique - Ministry of Agriculture (DCA-IIAM)
National Health Institute – Ministry of Health (INS)
National Institute for Fisheries Inspection (INIP)
South Africa
National Coordinator of South Africa national consortium is Professor Musoke, Director OVI
National Institute for Communicable Diseases of the National Health Laboratory Service (NICD/NHLS), Johannesburg, South Africa
Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria (FVS-UP), at Onderstepoort
Tanzania
National Coordinator of Tanzanian consortium is Professor Mecky Matee, Head Dept Microbiology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, MUHAS, Dar es Salaam
The Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI)
Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)
Zambia
Zambia national coordinator is Dr. Aaron S. Mweene, Dean, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia.
Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) - email: cvri @ zamnet dot zm
Smart Partnerships
Collaborating Institutions
Institutions or Networks in Africa and Asia that collaborate with SACIDS
