Measuring the impact of a health intervention requires a blend of effective research, team planning, and implementation research. In my humble self as the director of the Centre for Health Implementation and Translational Research (CHITRES) at the Fobang Institute for Innovations in Science and Technology (FINISTECH) I am pleased to present to you this yearly report of the institution.
Since its creation, CHITRES has been dedicated to providing strategic support to research governance and assistance, as well as evidence-based decision-making in practice. With research focuses on host and pathogen genomics, the interaction between communicable and non-communicable diseases, epidemiology, public health, and disease dynamics, CHITRES serves as a resource and framework for the development of public health research methodologies, implementation of intervention research, and health economic evaluation.
We have established partnerships with national and multilateral organizations such as the Ministry of Public Health in Cameroon and several African countries, the World Health Organization (WHO), Unitaid, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), Medicine for Malaria Ventures (MMV), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and Population Services International in the fight against various health problems and diseases, including malaria and COVID-19, as well as other health-related disparities. This report represents three years of progress, achievements, and key outcomes of our research program. One of our current projects in the field of malariology is the Plus Project, a multi-country collaboration aimed at informing the scale-up of Perennial Malaria Chemoprevention (PMC). The project, funded by Unitaid and PSI in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programmes and the Expanded Programmes on Immunization in several African countries, is coordinated by the LSHTM. Its objective is to co-design, pilot, and evaluate country-adapted models of PMC.
Despite impressive gains in recent years, malaria continues to impose a large mortality and morbidity burden. In 2020, there were an estimated 241 million malaria cases and 627,000 deaths globally. Nearly all (94%) of these cases and deaths occurred in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. Children under two years old are estimated to account for one-third (36%) of global malaria deaths. In order to improve malaria control and move towards elimination, WHO has been expanding the antimalarial toolkit to include chemoprevention. Since 2007, the WHO has been recommending a growing list of chemoprevention, including intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp), seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), and intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in infants (IPTi). The Plus Project will support delivery of PMC in 140 of the 300 public health facilities (and their outreach services) currently providing EPI in six districts of the Centre Region: Bafia, Nkolbisson, Soa, Ngoumou, Obala, and Ntui. Children from 0 to 36 months will be followed up in the passive and active cohort.
The Plus Project is a large multi-country project to inform the scale-up of PMC, funded by Unitaid, Population Services International (PSI) in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programmes (NMCPs), Expanded Programmes on Immunisation (EPIs). These organisations and other stakeholders are supporting the implementation of PMC in four focus countries (Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire and Mozambique). The model of PMC is slightly different for each country that is, the number of doses and EPI contact points through which PMC will be delivered differ. All countries will use the anti-malarial, Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) for PMC.
The Centre has for the past years been carrying practical laboratory sessions with students from the Departments of Biomedical Sciences and Food of the Fobang Institutes for Innovations in Science and Technology (FINISTECH). CHITRES is presently carrying out an evaluation of the implementation of PMC in the Centre Region of Cameroon, PLUS PROJECT.
Studied Law and Interpretation. Was a journalist and Animator at Cameroon Radio and Television and Served as Translator/Interpreter at the National Assemblies of Cameroon. Served as an interpreter in the War Crimes Tribunal Arusha and continues in the same function at the ICC, the Hague.
Empowerment and Transformation for All (NewSETA). He is a co-founder and the immediate former Chair of the African Movement for Democracy (AMD). Ateki was a Hurford Fellow at the World Movement for Democracy, Washington DC in 2016, and a Draper Hills Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, USA, in 2019. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the World Youth Movement for Democracy and was one of 11 African youths to debate President Emmanuel Macron at the New Africa-France Summit in Montpelier, in October, 2021
Holder of a Post Graduate Diploma in Library Sciences from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and a Bachelor of Library Science from University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Executive Director of EISERVI – Education Information Services International. Member of International Advisory Board of Book Aid International and Previously lnformation Services Manager at the British Council Cameroon. Actively engaged in the development of Library and information services across the primary to the tertiary academic sectors of Cameroon.
Rev Dr Ngome Elias attended the University of Dschang and the Cameroon Faculty of Evangelical Theology (FACTEC), where he obtained a degree in Agricultural Engineering (AE), a Master of Divinity (MDiv), a Master of Theology (MTH), and a PhD in theology and intercultural studies. He currently serves as the resident coordinator of the English Division of FACTEC and as the Cameroon Centre Region coordinator of Telio University Minnesota, T-Net Training of Pastors. His expertise lies in using agriculture as a tool for evangelism.
He earned his medical degrees in Nigeria, Kenya, and the UK. He runs the Nasah & Partners Practice at Dipple Medical Centre in Wickford, Essex, UK. He is a general practitioner specializing in providing services related to diagnostic and screening procedures, family planning, maternity and midwifery services, surgical procedures, and treatment of diseases, disorders, or injuries.
Studied Performing and Visual Arts, Theatre Arts and Theatre for Communication, Education and Development. Served as Technical Adviser Ministry of Culture. Consultant for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Sensitisation UNAIDS, Sierra Leone and Theatre for Education Consultant, UNESCO Cameroon. Lecturer for Performing Arts at the Universities of Yaoundé I and Buea.
Experienced English language educator, with experience as a TESOL teacher at Technical High School and as a Regional Pedagogic Inspector for Bilingualism. I have also, served as a Full Bright Fellow with the American Embassy and as a National Pedagogic Inspector for Bilingualism. Additionally, I am the author of English language textbooks and a coordinator at the Centre for Language Acquisition and Pedagogy (CLAPED).
Dr Ken Obenson is a pathologist in New Brunswick, Canada. He graduated in medicine from the University of Lagos (1987) and is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, Cytopathology and Forensic Pathology. He is also certified in Perinatal Pathology (France). The Horizon Health Network currently employs Dr. Obenson and serves as Chief Forensic Pathologist for the province of New Brunswick in Eastern Canada
Holds a PhD in Applied Economics and Food Security from Newcastle University. He has previously worked in the Centre for Rural Economy, at Newcastle University and in the Action Against Stunting Hub at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He part of the Perivoli Africa Research Centre and the Africa Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), at the University of Bristol, where he is actively engaged in research to advance the development of transformative care systems and economies for Africa.
Akindeh is an Associate Professor of Biostatistics and Disease Modelling at the University of Yaoundé I’s Department of Biochemistry, and leads the Clinical and Laboratory Data Management Unit at the university’s Biotechnology Center. He has designed and managed over five clinical trials on anti-malarial drugs and consulted for the WHO on a tuberculosis drug trial. Akindeh serves on the university’s ethics board and is a member of multiple scientific networks, including the Society of Epidemiology Cameroon and the CoMo consortium. His research focuses on using mathematical models for disease control, and he is part of WHO’s Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence Advisory Group.
Manka Gwei works at Citibank, she has risen along the ranks to Sub-Saharan Africa Franchise Governance Office; She served as Vice President; CFO – Cameroon, West and Central Africa Sub Cluster, Citibank Cameroon for 13 years; Business Finance Partner at Standard Chartered Bank; Senior Internal Auditor at All first Financial Inc. She is also teens teacher and is author of Christian books on teenage parenting.
A DVM from Nigeria, he is an Expert in Molecular Medical Microbiology with over 20 years of experience in animal disease surveillance and zoonosis. He acted as a visiting Postgraduate lecturer at the Biotechnology Center and also at the Department of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Y’dé 1. He is now an expert consultant at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, and a Steering Committee for Africa One Health Network member. Holds the position of Director General at LANAVET
Studied Medicine in Yaounde, Cameroon but majored in Public Health and within the years grown from Program Manager, Associate Director of Programs, Deputy Country Director and now country Director of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Yaounde, Cameroon. He also serves as the Medical Advisor, Master in Vaccinology and Drug Development. Institute for Global Health, University of Siena