The Fleming Fund is a £265 million UK aid investment to tackle antimicrobial resistance in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The fellowship programme is managed by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, in partnership with Mott MacDonald, the Fleming Fund Grants Management Agent, and LSHTM as host institution.
We provide support to fellows working on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The Fleming Fund Fellowship programme was funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, UK Government, with the intention to develop the skills required in leading national institutions to help combat the global threat of antibiotic resistance. We are designated ‘Host Institution’ for the Fleming Fund Fellowships.
We successfully delivered Fellowships for 17 fellows from Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe in phase I of the fellowships.
We have been asked to deliver more fellowships in the phase II of the UK DHSC Fleming Fund programme. In phase II we have 10 from Ghana and 10 from Zimbabwe. This consists of 16 professional fellows and 4 policy fellows.
In Phase II, the Professional Fellows aim to:
- Deepen understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and its societal impact.
- Enhance skills to generate and utilize country-level AMR data.
- Improve the application of AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) data for policy and practice.
- Promote wider dissemination of AMR knowledge within institutions.
- Strengthen One Health collaboration across sectors.
In Phase II, Policy Fellows will focus on three key goals:
- Expanding AMR expertise to enhance awareness, leadership, and governance within a One Health approach.
- Collaborating to support data-driven decision-making and policy development across sectors.
- Leading workforce development by training peers and participating in professional networks to strengthen systems and institutions.
More information
- Visit the LSHTM Antimicrobial Resistance Centre
- More information on the Fleming Fund
Clare
Chandler
Professor of Medical Anthropology
Clare is an anthropologist whose research work has been mainly based in East and West Africa and Southeast Asia where she has used social science approaches to understand health topics including AMR, malaria and multimorbidity, with a particular emphasis on low resource settings. Her work has followed the bio-social lives of antimicrobial medicines and diagnostic technologies across different contexts from community settings to farms, drug shops and pharmacies, and to formal health facilities and policy spaces. This research connects different scales and concepts, engaging with current concerns of the anthropocene and multi-species living. This has opened ways of managing complex challenges such as those posed by drug resistance, by situating policy and implementation options within the realities of health, illness and care across different spaces. Clare has a longstanding interest in capacity strengthening and the relevance of research for policy. She has provided technical advice to governments, non-governmental organisations and international institutions.
Clare was co-founder and co-director of the LSHTM AMR Centre. Contact: Clare.Chandler@lshtm.ac.uk
Richard
Stabler
Associate Professor
Richard is co-lead together with Clare Chandler as the LSHTM Host Institution for the Fleming Fund Fellowship programme. Has been at LSHTM since 2004 working and my research is focused on investigating antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors from important global pathogens, using high throughput sequencing technologies (WGS) to investigate the population structure, transmission and genetics behind virulence and AMR in Acinetobacter baumannii, C. jejuni and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Richard has also worked on He meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Closteroides difficile. Additionally, he investigated the microbiome of an astronaut, developed a nonfluidic AMR diagnostic device and the use of bacteriophage depolymerase as a novel therapy for MDR A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae.
Richard is the co-founder and co-Director of the LSHTM Antimicrobial Resistance Centre. Contact: Richard.Stabler@lshtm.ac.uk
Sophie Trueman
Project Manager
Sophie is currently working as a Project Manager for the Fleming Fund Project at LSHTM. Sophie has been working for LSHTM for five years across a range of complex global health projects and worked with various funders, including as NIHR, BMGF & The European Commission. She holds an MSc in Public Health from LSHTM and is a member of the Association of Research Managers and Administrators. Sophie has a deep interest in partner capacity strengthening and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). Contact: Sophie.Trueman@lshtm.ac.uk
Chido Kamarami
Project Administrator
Chido is currently working as Project Administrator for the Fleming Fund Project. Chido is a dedicated and passionate Public Health professional with a strong foundation in Environmental and Public Health, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in the field from Middlesex University London. Her career has been defined by a deep commitment to improving community health and wellbeing through various roles in both Public Health organisations and private sector initiatives. With a focus on supporting public health initiatives, Chido has contributed to impactful projects at NHS England and WHO Collaborating Centre. Contact: Chido.Kamarami@lshtm.ac.uk
Shungu Munyati
Director-General Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI)
Shungu is the of the Biomedical Research and Training Institute (BRTI) since 2016 and was previously the Assistant Director-General. Prior to that Dr Munyati worked in the Ministry of Health, National Institute of Health Research as Deputy Director and former Chairperson, Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ) that serves as the national research ethics committee responsible for research oversight, coordination and promotion of research. She has over 15 years of experience in research administration and project management having administered fellowships and coordinated training grants for capacity building to support post-graduate trainings that include organizing design and delivery of short courses for health research skills strengthening in the field of HIV/AIDS and TB. Her passion in training and capacity building is to contribute towards building a critical mass of young African research scientists who can contribute to health development through research. She has an MSc in Microbiology/Immunology, with a PhD in Biomedical/Behavioural Sciences. Contact: smunyati@brti.co.zw
Nana Kofi Quakyi
MPH, Aurum Institute Ghana (AIG)
Nana is a Public Health policy and management expert whose research and professional work focus on improving health outcomes in low-resource settings, particularly in Ghana and other LMICs, through service delivery innovation. As the Principal Investigator for the AI-Powered Decision Support for Antibiotic Prescribing project at The Aurum Institute, Nana leads a multidisciplinary team to develop and implement AI-based tools that enhance antibiotic prescribing practices, thereby combating AMR. His experience spans various contexts, from community health initiatives to national policy formulation, emphasizing the integration of novel and advanced technologies in healthcare delivery. Nana was previously a Research Fellow and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at New York University and currently serves as the Acting Country Director of Aurum Institute Ghana. Contact: nquakyi@auruminstitute.org
Benjamin Swift
Lecturer in Antimicrobial Resistance, Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
Ben is currently working along with Dr Lucy Brunton co-leading the RVC’s AMR working group to harmonise AMR research across the institution and exploit our networks nationally and internationally to forge new collaborations.
Ben has been at the RVC since 2017 where he joined as a Fellow. His research has two focuses - the development of novel diagnostic tests for mycobacterial diseases (including Tuberculosis) in humans and animals and investigating anthropogenic drivers of antimicrobial resistance in the environment. Ben works closely with the Epidemiology group to drive my research to ensure it has impact in the real world. He is also keenly interested in translational research, where he has founded his own spin-out company which has been the vehicle to commercialise some of his inventions related to my research on bacteriophages and their use as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Contact: bswift@rvc.ac.uk
Currently at the LSHTM we provide support to 20 fellows working on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in two African countries. These fellows are from Zimbabwe (10) and Ghana (10) working in both human and animal health surveillance, mentored by LSHTM and RVC researchers with extensive experience in antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use, and antimicrobial consumption.
- Ghana fellows
Dr Samuel Pie, AMR Advocacy, One Health
Samuel is a dedicated and accomplished Senior Medical Officer with a robust Public Health and Community medicine background. He has built a career marked by a strong commitment to improving health outcomes in his community.
Furthering his education, Samuel is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at the Catholic University of Ghana and is a resident in Community Health at the West African College of Physicians. His commitment to continuous learning is evident from his additional Epidemiology for Global Health certifications and leadership in Health Management from the University of Washington.
Professionally, Samuel has been an integral part of the Tamale Teaching Hospital since 2017, currently on secondment to the Community Health Department, University of Ghana Medical School. His roles have included contributing to antimicrobial stewardship, public health advocacy, clinical research and supports national health policy development.
Samuel seeks to deepen his understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and policymaking through this Fellowship which offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with experts, conduct impactful research, and contribute to innovative policy solutions for AMR in Ghana. His goal is to enhance his skills in advocacy, policy analysis, and implementation, ultimately becoming a more effective policy advocate and policymaker on both local and global levels.
- Mentor: Ruby Chang, RVC
- Co-Mentor: Jennifer Bonnah
Glover Asiedu Appiah (BPharm, MPSGH), AMC Surveillance One Health
Glover is a highly experienced Pharmacist at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana, where he plays a pivotal role in the Data Management and Risk Control Department by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of pharmaceuticals, food products, and medical devices. In his capacity as a Regulatory Officer, Glover is deeply involved in enforcing regulatory compliance, overseeing and managing critical regulatory data to support evidence-based decision-making. He is also an advocate for public health, participating in educational initiatives to raise awareness about safe medication practices and the dangers of antimicrobial resistance.
In addition to his work at the FDA, Glover is a distinguished fellow of the Fleming Fund Professional Fellowship for the 2024/2025 cohort, focusing on Antimicrobial Consumption (AMC) Surveillance within the One Health framework. Through this fellowship, he contributes to the global effort to monitor and mitigate antimicrobial resistance across human, animal, and environmental health sectors. His dedication to public health and his comprehensive expertise will make him a vital contributor to both national and international health initiatives.
- Mentor: Meenakshi Gautham, LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Saviour Yevutsey
Ewurabena Ntiamoah Bediako, AMR Surveillance Aquaculture
Ewurabena's role as a Senior Veterinary Officer (SVO) in the Fish Health Unit (FHU) involves combining clinical skills with research and leadership to ensure optimal health and management of fish populations. I possess a broad range of expertise tailored to health management and treatment of aquatic animals. I am proficient at diagnosing bacterial, parasitic, viral and fungal diseases through microbiology, histopathology and molecular techniques and skilled in managing fish diseases using medications, vaccines and alternative therapies. I have expertise in developing biosecurity monitoring plans (BMP’s) and health management plans to promote overall fish health and limit the development of AMR pathogens. I also conduct research to advance fish health knowledge.
I have successfully managed large-scale outbreaks of Streptococcosis within fish populations preventing erosion of farmers’ investment. I pioneered the collaboration between the FHU and other medical and veterinary laboratories to improve early and accurate diagnosis of diseases enhancing treatment outcomes. I have made significant contributions to the development of national policies related to fish health, biosecurity and welfare through projects such as ‘Enhancing Capacity/Risk Reduction of Emerging Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) to African Tilapia Culture’ and ‘Strengthening Aquatic Disease Resilience for Sustainable Livelihoods and Food systems in Ghana.
- Mentor: Lucy Brunton, RVC
- Co-Mentor: Eric Boyce Sawyerr
Abass Suleymana, AMR Health Economic One Health
Abass is an accomplished health insurance professional with extensive experience in the sector, currently serving as the head of M&E within the Research, Policy, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in Ghana. He holds a Master of Health Economics from the University of Ghana and a Master of Business Administration from Sikkim Manipal University. Additionally, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He is also an alumnus of the School of Public Health at Seoul National University, where he completed International Training on Health Insurance.
Mr. Suleymana has over fifteen years of experience in health insurance, which includes holding several significant management positions, including being a Regional Director in the Upper West Region of the NHIA, where he was responsible for overseeing and implementing health insurance policies and programmes within the region, aiming to improve financial access to quality healthcare services for the local population.
Beyond his professional achievements, Abass is married to Rahilu Haruna, and they have two children, Nina and Ayan. His extensive background and leadership roles reflect his dedication to advancing healthcare systems and improving health insurance services in Ghana.
- Mentor: Catherine Goodman LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Brian Asare
Dr Benjamin Kissi Sasu, AMR Surveillance Animal Health
Dr. Sasu stands at the forefront of Ghana's battle against antimicrobial resistance (AMR), utilizing his veterinary expertise to safeguard animal and human health. As the Deputy Head of the National Food Safety Laboratory (AMR Reference Laboratory for Animal Health) in Ghana, he is instrumental in shaping the nation’s AMR surveillance and mitigation strategies.
His pivotal role extends to risk communication, where he serves as the Risk Communication Officer for the Veterinary Services Directorate, translating complex AMR concepts into actionable public health messages. Dr. Sasu's impact on AMR policy is profound, having been a key contributor to critical national documents including the Integrated AMR Surveillance Framework.
Dr. Sasu's commitment to combating AMR is evident through his leadership in high-impact projects such as the Fleming Transition Grant and the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Project on AMR. His groundbreaking research on AMR patterns in slaughter facilities, fish farms, and poultry farms has provided crucial data for informed decision-making.
As a respected member of the Technical Working Group for AMR Surveillance and the National AMR Platform, Dr. Sasu continues to drive Ghana’s AMR agenda forward, ensuring the country remains at the cutting edge of global efforts to preserve antimicrobial efficacy for future generations.
- Mentor: Lucy Brunton, RVC
- Co-Mentor: Mary Nkansa
Regina Ama Banu, AMR Laboratory Environmental Health
Regina is a Senior Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI) in Accra, Ghana. She leads the Microbiology Section within the Environmental Biology, Biotechnology, and Health Division. Regina has expertise in mycology and bacteriology, focusing on water and sanitation-related research for over 15 years.
Her work includes conducting field surveys, analysing data, and disseminating findings through presentations, annual reports, and peer-reviewed publications. Her research has encompassed various water systems, including municipal supplies, cooling towers, rain-harvested systems, slow sand filtration, packaged water and wastewater systems.
Regina has been the focal person for the Global WHO ESBL E. coli Tricycle Surveillance study in Ghana and is a fellow of the WHO/TDR Africa Regional Structured Operational Research Initiative (SORT IT) that builds sustainable research capacity to combat antimicrobial resistance. At CSIR-WRI, she has mentored many technical staff and interns.
She is a member of Ghana’s AMR platform, the Ghana Science Association and the CSIR Research Science Association.
- Mentor: Ben Swift, RVC
- Co-Mentor: Solomon Sefa
Dr Abena Kaare Aduful, Practitioner Antimicrobial Stewardship Human Health
Dr. Aduful is a health professional, researcher, and PMI-certified project manager focused on advancing health systems in developing countries. She is a budding family physician affiliated with Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital (GHS) and is currently on secondment at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. She holds a master’s in clinical leadership and management and has significant experience in various management positions. Notably, she partook in the development of the 5-year strategic plan for the Volta Regional Hospital during its transition to a Teaching Hospital. Her research areas focus on cerebral palsy, health systems, and antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Aduful has presented her research findings at prominent national and international forums, including the “Disability in Education: Sustaining an Inclusive Africa Forum” and the “Ghana Health Service Research Dissemination Forum: Driving Participation, Innovation, and Excellence in the Network of Practice (NoP)”. She is slated to present at the upcoming forum by the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Ghana Physicians and Surgeons Foundation of North America on the theme "Antimicrobial Resistance: The Role of the Health Care Worker in Safeguarding Medicines." Her poster presentation won an award at the Annual General & Scientific meeting of the Paediatric Society of Ghana in 2024. She hopes to gain valuable insights from antimicrobial stewardship programs through implementation research to drive improvements in health systems.
- Mentor: Charlene Rodrigues, LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Kwaku Labi
Isabella Estella-Agbedor, AMR Laboratory Human Health
Isabella is a clinical microbiologist with 18 years of professional experience and works at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital Central Laboratory. She has high expertise in identification of bacterial pathogens and tracking of antimicrobial resistance patterns. She is a productive, collaborative and resourceful trainer in bacteriology where students, medical laboratory scientists, and other healthcare professionals, have been impacted with hands-on training on clinical microbiology. Currently, she is the group leader for the morning shift staff at the Microbiology Unit of the Central Laboratory and is responsible for supervising and managing team members in the performance of their duties.
Isabella has great interest and passion for antimicrobial resistance. Her key research interest lies in molecular investigations of multidrug resistant (MDR)-pathogens, primarily focused on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii due to their MDR nature and frequent associations with nosocomial infections. She is also knowledgeable in the field of Project Management and Strategic management and Corporate Leadership. She holds BSc in Medical microbiology from the University of Santa Clara, Cuba, MPhil in Medical microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Master of Business Administration, Project management, University of Ghana Business School and Certificate in Strategic Management and Corporate Leadership, Graduate Institute of Management, Ghana.
- Mentor: Sam Willcocks, LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Nicholas Dayie
Dr Jeffery Elorm Akortia Agbemeetsi, AMR Laboratory Animal Health
Dr. Agbemeetsi is a Senior Veterinary Officer and the deputy head of the Central Veterinary Laboratory of the Veterinary Services Directorate in Pong-Tamale, Ghana. He graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
His work experiences include clinical practice at Marivet Pet Clinic in Accra, Ghana, and veterinary field practice from Central Tongu District in the Volta Region where team building, farmer organization, and disease outbreak investigation skills were developed. He is the Sentinel Lead for AMR surveillance in animal health for the five northern regions of Ghana. This happened after his contribution to the control of COVID-19 in the Northern Region of Ghana as a member of the molecular diagnostics team at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in Pong-Tamale.
Dr. Akortia Agbemeetsi has four years of experience in gross pathological examinations, serological assays, microbiological testing, molecular diagnosis, and vaccine production. He contributed to the control of the 2023 Anthrax disease outbreak in the Upper East Region of Ghana with roles in laboratory diagnosis and vaccine production. Jeffery advocates for the proper use of Antibiotics, One Health concept, is a cohort VIII member of the Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, and a Fleming fund fellow.
- Mentor: Sian Frosini, RVC
- Co-Mentor: Victoria Sedor
- Zimbabwe fellows
Siyangapi Chimuti, AMR Laboratory Food Safety
Siyangapi is a Zimbabwean Food Technologist with a strong passion for food safety and quality which is dedicated to ensuring the safety of food products for human consumption. Siyangapi’s highest qualification is a Master of Science degree in Food Science and Nutrition, which has equipped her with a deep understanding of food microbiology and nutrition. Currently, he is working as a Food Microbiologist, specializing in antimicrobial susceptibility testing for Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS) pathogens.
Her work involves detecting and characterizing antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens, which is critical in developing effective strategies to mitigate the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Siyangapi has authored two publications in the field of food safety, showcasing her expertise and contributions to the scientific community.
- Mentor: Ozan Gundogdu, LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Peter Katsande
Runyararo Ngara, AMU/C Surveillance Animal Health
Runyararo currently works as a Government Veterinary Epidemiologist in Zimbabwe, with over 5 years of experience in the Department of Veterinary Services. Runyararo previously worked as a Government Veterinary Officer from 2018 to 2023. She graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree in 2018.
Her expertise includes animal disease surveillance and control, disease outbreak response and investigation, animal health policy development and implementation and Public Health protection.
Runyararo is thrilled to be pursuing Fleming Fund Fellowship on antimicrobial use and consumption surveillance in animal health and aims to strengthen Zimbabwe's capabilities in monitoring and mitigating antimicrobial resistance.
Through the fellowship, Runyararo aims to contribute to the development of evidence-based strategies for responsible antimicrobial use in animal health, ultimately enhancing Public Health and animal welfare in Zimbabwe.
- Mentor: Pablo Alarcon Lopez, RVC
- Co-Mentor: Zivanai Makoni
Nancy Nyaradzo Gwaziwa, AMC Surveillance Human Health
Nancy currently works as the Chief Analyst at the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). Nancy has been working with the Authority for the past 10 years whose mandate is to ensure the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of safe, efficacious and good quality medicines. The authority is the custodian of AMC data at import level.
She received the best research project award for MSc focused on the quality of pharmaceutical products available on the Zimbabwean market (reference to Ibuprofen and Amoxicillin), comparing the quality of products from registered pharmacies and those from the informal market bought by individuals who self-prescribe.
Recently, the Zimbabwean database for imported medicines has been automated, making analysis of the data easier than when it was manually recorded. Nancy will be performing a gap analysis on signing up for the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS), the steps we need to take as a nation for signing up and perform AMC data analysis (Human Health) for GLASS reporting. I will also share my findings with policy makers so that it can be used for AMR decision making.
BSc Applied Chemistry, MSc Analytical Chemistry and MBA (Zim).
- Mentor: Justin Dixon, LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Blessmore Vimbai Chaibva
Tatenda Ngorima, AMR Laboratory Human Health
Tatenda is a medical laboratory scientist with a decade of experience in the field. She holds an MSc in Medical Microbiology and a professional certificate in QWArS AMR surveillance expert-Microbiology, demonstrating my commitment to combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). My current role as a Fleming Fund AMR fellow at the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory (NMRL) is pivotal in advancing national AMR surveillance efforts.
Tatenda is the laboratory focal person for the Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (EGASP) among men with urethral discharge in Zimbabwe. She plays a key role in national surveillance programs for GLASS pathogens and other diarrheal disease-causing agents, contributing significantly to the understanding and monitoring of AMR trends in Zimbabwe.
Tatenda Ngorima aims to apply knowledge which will be gained through the Fleming Fund AMR Fellowship programme to enhance our laboratory's capacity for AMR surveillance and diagnostics. She is confident that being a Fleming Fund AMR fellow will contribute to improving the accuracy and timeliness of antimicrobial susceptibility testing, which will inform appropriate treatment decisions, and supporting national efforts to combat AMR.
- Mentor: Richard Stabler, LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Emmanuel Tizauone
Tsamwi Naume Gurira, Practitioner Antimicrobial Stewardship Health
Tsamwi is a veterinarian with over 5 years' experience in the Department of Veterinary Services in Zimbabwe. Her love for animals coupled with her passion for medicine is what drove her towards becoming a veterinarian.
She has a bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine with the University of Zimbabwe and is currently studying towards her master's degree in veterinary tropical medicine with the University of Pretoria. She is a Fleming fund fellow (antimicrobial stewardship for animal health).
Currently she is a veterinary diagnostics and research officer at the Central Veterinary Laboratory in the microbiology section involved in culture and identification of bacteria, AMR (antimicrobial resistance) surveillance, disease outbreak investigation and offering advisory services to farmers.
She has previous experience in field work as a veterinarian involved in diagnoses, treatment, control and prevention of animal diseases.
She has interests in One Health, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship as shown by her participation in AMR surveillance in the animal health sector, Tricycle project, Zimbabwe ICARS (Integrated Centre for Antimicrobial Solutions) projects COHESA (Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa) initiatives and AGISAR project. She looks forward to doing more work in combating AMR.
- Mentor: Ariel Brunn, LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Zivanai Makoni
Dr Canaan Tinashe Hodobo, AMR Policy Animal Health
Dr Hodobo is a veterinarian with the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MLAFWRD). He is a Fleming Fund Fellow for Animal Health Policy on AMR. Dr Hodobo is a member of the One Health Secretariat of Zimbabwe, representing MLAFWRD within the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) on One Health and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) issues. His responsibilities include coordinating efforts between key ministries of agriculture, human health and environment, implementing the National Action Plan on AMR, fostering cross-sector collaboration, enhancing data-driven decision-making, and supporting the integration of AMR surveillance.
- Mentor: Javier Guitian, RVC
- Co-Mentor: Chenai Garise
Gerald Nyamutamba, AMU/C surveillance Human Health
Gerald holds the position of Chief Pharmacist in the Directorate of Pharmacy Services, Ministry of Health and Child Care; stationed at the largest central hospital in Zimbabwe. Throughout his career, he has earned a Master of Science in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, a Postgraduate Diploma in Global Health Procurement and Supply Chain Management in addition to a Bachelor of Pharmacy Honors Degree. He has a decade of experience working in the public health sector where he has obtained certifications in patient safety and health systems strengthening. Under the fellowship he intends to generate fit for purpose and practitioner informed; evidence based antimicrobial stewardship interventions. Currently, his research interests are in addressing barriers to rational use of antimicrobials through translation of laboratory sensitivity data to clinical use.
- Mentor: Justin Dixon, LSHTM
- Co- Mentor: Blessmore Vimbai Chaibva
Edwin Maringe, AMR Laboratory Environment
Edwin is employed at the Environmental Management Agency IEMA) as a laboratory technician in the microbiology section. He is a certified AMR Surveillance expert, Biosafety and Biosecurity trainer, and technical signatory, having been deemed competent by the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADCAS}.
Key achievements
- Developed protocols for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing in the Environmental sector.
- Participated in the World Health Organization's (WHO) Tricycle project, aimed at simplifying data collection and analysis for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
- Provides quarterly Environmental AMR data to the One Health Secretariate.
- Contributed to the review and costing of activities for the Zimbabwe AMR National Action Plan.
Expertise
- AMR Surveillance
- Biosafety and Biosecurity
- Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
- Laboratory Technology
- Water quality monitoring
Education
- National Diploma in Applied Biological Technology, Harare Polytechnic College
- National Certificate in Science Technology, Harare Polytechnic College
- Studying for a degree in Safety, Health, and Environmental Management, Bindura University of Science
- Mentor: Ozan Gundogdu, LSHTM
- Co-Mentor: Peter Katsande
Stephen Karim
- Mentor: Katharina Kranzer, LSHTM
- Co- Mentor: Mutsa Bwakura
- Ghana Fellows
Jenny Bonah
Jennifer Bonnah is a Regulatory Pharmacist who has been working in regulation of medicinal products with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) of Ghana, the national medicines regulatory body since 2004 till date. Currently, she is the Chair of the FDA AMR Team and also works with the Medicines Evaluation and Registration Department. She is the focal person representing the FDA on the Ghana National AMR Platform, offering technical advice on quality, safety and efficacy of antimicrobials for human and veterinary use. She was a member of the Technical Working Group that developed the Ghana National Action Plan on AMR and served as the Antimicrobial Use (AMU) Technical Lead, Human Health for the just ended Fleming Fund Country Grant for AMR projects in Ghana.
Mary Nkansa
Mary Nkansa is a Public Health Professional and a Fleming Fellow in Animal Health with special interest in antimicrobial use in terrestrial and aquatic animals. Mary received her Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana and Master’s Degree from the University of Tromso, Norway in International Fisheries Management. She also has a second Master’s Degree in Public Health from the Ensign College of Public Health which is affiliated to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology respectively. She currently works as a Principal Officer at the Aquatic Animal Health Unit of the Fisheries Commission, Ghana and also on secondment to the Public Health and Food Safety Unit of the Veterinary Services Directorate of Ghana.
Nicholas Dayie
Nicholas Dayie is a lecturer at the University of Ghana and a Fleming Fellow (Laboratory Human Health). He received training in Clinical Bacteriology and Applied Communicable Disease Control from LSHTM. He is a mentee of Prof. Richard Stabler, a Molecular Bacteriologist at LSHTM. In addition, he spent some time in the MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM where he acquired skills in Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS). He led the Reference Laboratory designated for AMR Surveillance to participate successfully in the 2018/2019 WHO EQA Programme organised by the Danish Technical University (DTU), Copenhagen.
Francis Kyei-Frimpong (AMR Surveillance, Pharmacy)
My name is Francis Kyei-Frimpong and I am the principal pharmacist at Kumasi South Hospital in Kumasi, located in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.I am responsible for providing medicine information, advice, and counselling services to clients and other health staff at the hospital. I also train and monitor the activities of newly posted pharmacists and pharmacy students, as well asprepare reports on the hospital’s pharmacy department for the District Health Information Management System. I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacy and my interest in AMR/AMU began when completing my thesis for this degree. I observed that antimicrobials were being prescribed and used inappropriately in the hospital where I was working. I also saw how the irresponsible use of antimicrobials contributed to poor clinical outcomes, increased cost of treatment and, ultimately, antimicrobial resistance.
- Kenya fellows
Susan Mahuro Githii (AMR Laboratory Fellowship –Human Health)
Susan Githii works at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Kenya. Currently, she is the focal person for coordinating the laboratory activities in Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) surveillance. She also coordinates an online mentorship on AMR surveillance using the ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) platform for the laboratory personnel conducting the AMR surveillance. As the AMR laboratory focal person, she feels that the Fellowship will be a huge asset in her future work as she will gain more knowledge in laboratory mentorship which will improve her skills in AMR surveillance coordination. She plans to fully utilize the knowledge she acquires from the Fellowship to build capacity in the Microbiology Departments so that they are able to produce quality AMR data which can be used to address policy in Kenya. Susan has vast experience in the medical laboratory field spanning over 27 years. She holds a master’s degree in Medical Microbiology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences. Susan is also a registered member of the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologist Board, as well as the National AMR secretariat that makes decision of AMR surveillance activities.
Grace Bartonjo (AMR Surveillance Fellowship – Human Health)
Grace works at National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), Kenya. She is currently the Deputy in-Charge in the Strategic Information Unit, engaged actively in NPHL data management including AMR surveillance data. Grace has felt the increasing trend of AMR/U; the actual trend and exact burden is, however, unknown due to lack of systematic surveillance. She is passionate to strengthen and build up a systematic surveillance system and diagnostic services to inform policy and decision making within the Ministry of Health. The Fellowship program will help her develop the skills and experience required to work in any set-up and build multi-sectoral relationships. She longs for a One Health platform and contribute her professional expertise to improve use and interpretation of AMR/ AMU data. She is eager to see that quality data are collected, analysed and used to understand the AMR/AMU trend, resulting in more understanding in Kenya thus design better and effective ways to combat this global threat Grace holds a master’s degree in Epidemiology and Laboratory Management and a BSC in Microbiology. Her qualification, experience in surveillance and epidemiological work enables her to better address AMR/AMU surveillance to combat this problem globally, regionally and nationally.
Karim Wanga (AMU/C Surveillance Fellowship – Human Health)
Karim Wanga has a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s degree in pharmacy (Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance) from the University of Nairobi. He now works at the Pharmacy and Poisons board, Kenya where he is the AMR focal point as well as head of Post-Market Surveillance, under Product Safety Section. Karim has a passion for Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and feels obliged to make his contribution towards the combat of AMR. He saw an opportunity in the Fleming Fund to achieve some of the AMS objectives. Through this fellowship he hopes to develop and adopt a standardized methodology and tools for collecting AMU/C data, including data on prescribing and consumption of antimicrobials. Karim also hopes to use this data and information to support policy makers and healthcare professionals to optimize use of antimicrobials both at country and facility levels. Lastly, Karim looks to support the establishment of a national database for AMU/C data as well as submission of data to the global database, GLASS. Some of the AMU and AMC work that he plans to implement include the introduction of WHO antimicrobial consumption and use monitoring tools in Kenya through training of healthcare providers at facility level. Subsequently, these tools will enable antimicrobial consumption and use data generation at the country and facility levels.
Edith Chege Kagio (AMR Laboratory Fellowship – Animal Health)
Edith is a laboratory technologist in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives, State Department of Veterinary Services. In this role, Edith also works at the Regional Veterinary Investigation Laboratories, Karatina which serves the central and some parts of the north eastern part of the country. Her work entails carrying out laboratory diagnostic tests for different animal diseases in various laboratory sections, and she has been involved in AMR surveillance on microorganisms showing trends of resistance in Kenya. The results generated are shared with the Head of Laboratory Diagnostics at the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS). Edith has also participated in routine surveillance and outbreak activities in various counties under the Regional Veterinary Instigation Laboratory (RVIL) mandate. The Kenya Fellowship Scheme provides a platform for Edith to develop her personal capacity in addition to building skills on quality laboratory diagnosis, exploring new and advanced diagnostic techniques, acquiring data analysis experience and receiving mentorship and training from experts. The experience acquired will also greatly help her in understanding ways of addressing the global problem of AMR and how to formulate policies and frameworks to help alleviate this problem in Kenya and, at the same time, promote the prudent use of antimicrobials through antimicrobial stewardship.
Elvis Madara Waga (AMU/C Surveillance Animal Health)
Dr. Elvis Madara Waga is a Veterinary Surgeon working for the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) as a veterinary intern. He graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Elvis’ roles at the directorate include assisting in licensing and inspection of veterinary pharmacies and pharmaceuticals and conducting post-market surveillance activities. He also works on screening for registration of new pharmaceutical products and data management on imported and exported veterinary pharmaceuticals. His interest in AMU/C surveillance and One Health is driven by the current global developing trends on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that threaten Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially poverty alleviation, food security and good health and well-being. Through this Fellowship, Dr. Elvis expects to learn collaborative project planning, and design an AMU/C surveillance project on the use, misuse, quality, safety and efficacy of anti-microbials, with collection and analysis of relevant data. This would provide a baseline data contribution to the global dialogue on combatting AMR. He also looks to develop himself professionally and capacity-wise to enhance service delivery at various workplace settings.
Eunice Atieno Omondi (AMR Laboratory Animal Health)
Eunice is a Veterinary Officer working at the Transfer and Receiving Facility of the Central Veterinary Laboratories in Kabete, Nairobi. Eunice Has been working in the veterinary laboratories for 12 years and has vast experience in laboratory operations and analyses using various techniques. Eunice ha.s extensive training on matters veterinary and has specialized in Epidemiology and currently working as a Laboratory Epidemiologist. Eunice joins the project as an officer representing the Director of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the project and she will lend her expertise in technical support and processing of samples in the co-infection project.
- Zimbabwe fellows
Prosper Chimbunde (AMR Laboratory Fellow, Human Health)
Prosper is a medical microbiologist in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, working at the National Microbiology Reference Laboratory in the Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) and Bacteriology Departments. As head of the EID, Prosper works on HIV detection in infants. He is also involved in bacterial isolation and characterisation in the bacteriology department. While completing his master's degree, Prosper developed an interest in the bacterial world and the national burden of AMR in Zimbabwe, as well as the threat of AMR globally. He intends to share the lessons learnt during this Fellowship with fellow scientists to strengthen their fight against AMR.
Blessmore Vimbai Chaibva (AMU/C Surveillance Fellow, Human Health)
Blessmore is the Rational Medicines Use Focal Person at the Ministry of Health and Child Care, in the Directorate of Pharmacy Services (OPS). She has been involved in the drafting, costing and finalization of AMR National Action Plan and Antimicrobial Resistance Situational analysis. Blessmore is also responsible for training healthcare workers on antimicrobial use and consumption, data collection and data analysis. Blessmore has seen growing evidence of antibiotics misuse in her community. She believes change starts with her and is interested in encouraging behaviour change through promoting the rational use of medicines.
Peter Katsande (AMR Laboratory Fellow, Animal Health)
Peter is a microbiologist at the Central Veterinary Laboratory which falls under the Department of Veterinary Technical Services. Peter's work focuses on bacterial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, coordinating external quality assurance programmes and strengthening the network of AMR microbiology laboratories in Zimbabwe. In addition to improving laboratory skills for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), Peter looks forward to participating in research collaborations with world renowned scientists through this Fellowship, and sharing different ideas and perspectives on laboratory-based antimicrobial surveillance.
Kudzaishe Vhoko (AMR Surveillance Fellow, Animal Health)
Kudzaishe is a Veterinary Investigations Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture/Department of Veterinary Services. She is also the AMR Focal Point in the Masvingo Provincial Veterinary Laboratory. Through her postgraduate training, Kudzaishe developed an interest in solving health-related issues using holistic approaches, as well as zoonotic diseases. The training opened her eyes to the vast world of "One Health". To Kudzaishe, antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem, and one often encountered by veterinarians. The opportunity to work with AMR presents a great opportunity for her to grow as a One Health practitioner and epidemiologist; and to work with other stakeholders to tackle this vast and complex problem.
Samuel Swiswa (AMU/C Surveillance Fellow, Animal Health)
Samuel is a veterinarian by profession and, now, a veterinary research officer in the Poultry Unit of the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Zimbabwe. Samuel's focus in the Poultry Unit is on the diagnosis of poultry diseases, ma Inly using gross pathology. Through interacting with farmers, he learned that some bacterial disease conditions are now responding less to certain antibiotic treatments. Through the Fellowship, Samuel is looking to develop and conduct a survey on antimicrobial use patterns in the country, as indiscriminate antimicrobial use contributes to AMR development.