w: Supported by Research Capacity Strengthening among young African Scientists : from GMP to MCDC Dr. Evelyn Korkor Ansah (Ghana) STRENGTHENING RESEARCH CAPACITY

Academic progression Qualified in Medicine in Ghana MPH PhD award - GMP in 2002 Re-entry Grant - GMP in 2006 Additional Funds from ACT Consortium Senior Fellowship Award - MCDC in 2010 Fellow of the Ghana College of Physicians

Currently  Deputy Director, Research & Development Division of GHS since 2011  Adjunct Lecturer in Epidemiology, MSc Clinical Trials Course at SPH, University of Ghana  Adjunct Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration  Member of Steering Committee, ACT Consortium, LSHTM  Chairperson of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Dodowa Health Research Centre, Ghana  MCDC Investigator  Currently supervising two PhD and an MSc student, advisor to another PhD student STRENGTHENING RESEARCH CAPACITY

Role of GMP/MCDC in my progression A twelve-year period of linkage with GMP/MCDC including:  Capacity strengthening (PhD)  Support for research  Support for Personal Development Programme (PDP)  Mentoring and  Leadership Development Programme (LDP)

Passing on the legacy of RCS Setting up a new department in the Research Division of GHS with a mandate that includes providing RCS for health staff at all levels Developing a Handbook for Operational Research for use by Regional/District health teams in Ghana Providing short courses on OR (Research Ethics, Data Management using EPI Data, Scientific Writing, Dissemination of research findings) – accepted for CPD of Doctors Awarded WHO/TDR short term grant for RCS to train 5 teams Adjunct lecturer in OR and Epidemiology in two Institutions

RCS among different categories of health teams

An individually randomized controlled trial of RDTs in two types of Health Facility settings in rural Ghana The impact of introducing mRDTs for the management of fever in the private retail sector in Ghana: a cluster RCT Clinician and patients percept- - ions of the use of mRDTs for diagnosis of malaria The cost-effectiveness of malaria diagnostics in public health facilities in rural Ghana PATIENT Research Work: A compendium of studies each filling an information niche (diagnostics)

Impact of work on Local Policy Member of the Task Team on Malaria Laboratory Policy Contributed to the development of National Guidelines for Laboratory Diagnosis of Malaria Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests introduced into health facilities with great input from results of study

Current Research Question Can we trust chemical sellers in drug retail shops to safely and effectively carry out rapid diagnostic testing for malaria prior to dispensing antimalarials in order to reduce the abuse and overuse of ACTs and subsequent development of resistance?

The Intervention  2 trial arms Intervention arm carried out a test using RDT prior to dispensing medication The control arm dispensed medication to clients without testing as was standard practice RDTs were provided by the study team on a monthly basis free of charge to chemical sellers and clients Chemical sellers in the 2 trial arms received separate 3-dy/4dy training MCDC_ASTMH 2014

Preparatory Activities and formative research

Filming followed by community sensitization 13

Supporting logistics Bin for disposal of sharps Bin for disposal of other waste Storage box for test items i.e gloves, test kits etc (adapted from the TACT study, Tanzania) Posters on treatment schedule for first line ACTs for adults and children Training certificate for display Job Aids

Summary RDTs to guide dispensing practice of chemical sellers has a significant impact on the dispensing of AMs and also ACTs in this setting There was no change in prescribing ACTs to true malaria cases, but a significant reduction in AMs of all types and ACTs to non malaria cases observed A more rapid change in behavior observed among shopkeepers than that found when RDTs were first introduced to health staff in the same setting No safety concerns were identified as a result of introducing RDTs RDTs were acceptable to both clients and chemical sellers A number of operational issues need to be considered

In conclusion My training has maximized my potential as a scientist and enabled me to contribute both locally and internationally to capacity building of other scientists and evidence-based decision making for health

Acknowledgements Prof. Brian Greenwood who believed that building capacity in young African scientists will yield great dividends Prof. Chris Whitty, my PhD Supervisor and mentor Director and Secretariat, Gates Malaria Partnership, LSHTM Director and Secretariat, Malaria Capacity Development Consortium, LSHTM Director and Secretariat, ACT Consortium, LSHTM My very supportive husband and children Co-Investigators and colleagues

Thanks for listening