Data for Health in Africa Meeting
&
5th DS-I Africa Consortium Meeting
23 - 29 August 2025
CEDI Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Accra
| Data for Health in Africa Meeting & 5th DS-I Africa Consortium Meeting CEDI Conferene Centre, University of Ghana Accra | ||||||||
| Saturday 23 August 2025 | ||||||||
| 07:30 - 16:00 | Registration at Entrance of CEDI Conference Centre (Ground Floor) | |||||||
| 08:30 - 09:30 |
Datathon/Toolathon Opening Session Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Auditorium |
Closed Session: State of Data Science for Health in Africa Facilitators: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) Venue: Seminar Room 6 |
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| 09:30 - 11:00 |
Datathon/Toolathon Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Seminar Room 2 & 3 |
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| 11:00 - 11:30 | Refreshment Break in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
| 11:30 - 13:00 |
Datathon/Toolathon Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Seminar Room 2 & 3 |
Closed Session: State of Data Science for Health in Africa Facilitators: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) Venue: Seminar Room 6 |
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| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch in the Garden Tent | |||||||
| 14:00 - 15:30 |
Datathon/Toolathon Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Seminar Room 2 & 3 |
Closed Session: State of Data Science for Health in Africa Facilitators: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) Venue: Seminar Room 6 |
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| 15:30 - 16:00 | Refreshment Break in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
| 16:00 - 17:00 |
Datathon/Toolathon Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Seminar Room 2 & 3 |
Closed Session: State of Data Science for Health in Africa Facilitators: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) Venue: Seminar Room 6 |
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| Sunday 24 August 2025 | ||||||||
| 07:30 - 16:00 | Registration at Entrance of CEDI Conference Centre (Ground Floor) | |||||||
| 08:30 - 11:00 |
Datathon/Toolathon Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Seminar Room 2 & 3 |
Closed Session: State of Data Science for Health in Africa Facilitators: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) Venue: Seminar Room 6 |
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| 11:00 - 11:30 | Refreshment Break in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
| 11:30 - 13:00 |
Datathon/Toolathon
Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Seminar Room 2 & 3 |
Closed Session: State of Data Science for Health in Africa Facilitators: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) Venue: Seminar Room 6 |
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| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch in the Garden Tent | |||||||
| 14:00 - 15:30 |
Datathon/Toolathon
Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Seminar Room 2 & 3 |
African Microbiome Symposium Facilitators: Ovokeraye Oduaran (WITS) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Edward Wampande (H3Africa Microbiome WG) |
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| 15:30 - 16:00 | Refreshment Break in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
| 16:00 - 18:00 |
Datathon/Toolathon
Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Seminar Room 2 & 3 |
African Microbiome Symposium Facilitators: Ovokeraye Oduaran (WITS) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Edward Wampande (H3Africa Microbiome WG) |
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| Monday 25 August 2025 | ||||||||
| 07:30 - 16:00 | Registration at Entrance of CEDI Conference Centre (Ground Floor) | |||||||
| 08:30 - 09:00 |
Showcase: DS-I Africa - Predict, Prevent, Personalize: The Future of Health Diagnostics in Africa Panellists: Rose Nakasi (DS-I Malaria), Gaone Retshabile (D-Space); Darlington Agogo (MinoHealth AI Labs); Amma Benneh-Akwasi Kum (BCX-Africa); Christina Riley (GDRS); Mansoor Saleh (UZIMA-DS) Facilitators: Inka Sastalla (NIH) & Francis Agamah (DS-I Africa CC) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Sophia Osawe (INFORM Africa) & Nathan Asiedu (University of Ghana) |
Early Career Researchers Excursion WACCBIP Facilities |
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| 09:00 - 09:30 | ||||||||
| 09:30 - 10:00 | ||||||||
| 10:00 - 11:00 |
Funding Landscape Panellists: Ekin Bolukbasi (Wellcome); Laura Povlich (NIH); Rob Beyer (Vilgro Africa); Shikoh Gitau (Qhala); Abdourahmane Sow (Pasteur Network); Adelard Kakunze (Africa CDC) Facilitators: Emile Chimusa (Northumbria University) & Kofi Amegah (DICE) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Lyndon Zass (eLwazi ODSP) & Sophia Osawe (INFORM Africa) |
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| 11:00 - 11:30 | Refreshment Break & ECR Poster Presentation in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
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| 11:30 - 13:00 |
Plenary Session: Engaging Strategic Partners: Leveraging existing networks and forging new partnerships Keynote Speaker: Andre Kengne (APHRC) Panellists: Yaw Bediako (Yemaachi Biotech); Scott Hazelhurst (MADIVA); Evelyn Gitau (SFA), Adelard Kakunze (Africa CDC) Facilitators: Sudha Srinivasan (NIH) & Yolisa Nalule (Wellcome) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Verena Ras (Cape Nature) & Lyndon Zass (eLwazi ODSP) |
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| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch in the Garden Tent | |||||||
| 14:00 - 15:30 |
Welcome & Opening Dr. Joyce Nabende (DS-I Africa Steering Committee Chair) Prof. Gordon Awandare (Pro Vice Chancellor University Ghana) Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (Minister for Health, Ghana) Dr. Laura Povlich (NIH) (NIH/FIC DS-I Africa Program Director) & Dr. Ekin Bolukbasi (Wellcome) Mr. Rolf Olson (Chargé d'affaires US Embassy, Ghana) Prof. Kofi Amegah (DICE Principal Investigator, University of Cape Coast) Prof. Peter Amoako-Yirenkyi (DS-CHANGE Principal Investigator, KNUST) Dr. Jasmit Shah (UZIMA-DS) (DS-I Africa Training & Education WG Chair) Venue: Auditorium Facilitator: Dr. Michelle Skelton (DS-I Africa CC) |
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| 15:30 - 16:00 | Refreshment Break & ECR Poster Presentation in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
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| 16:00 - 19:30 |
Network Exchange Poster Viewing/AI/ML technology; tools; resources demo's/mhealth apps/Cocktail Dinner Facilitator: Francis Agamah (DS-I Africa CC) Venue: Auditorium |
Science Communications Exhibition (PUBGem) Facilitators: Gordon Awandare (Pro Vice Chancellor University Ghana) & Andrew Nangtomah (PUBGEM) Venue: Auditorium Foyer |
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| Tuesday 26 August 2025 | ||||||||
| 07:30 - 16:00 | Registration at Entrance of CEDI Conference Centre (Ground Floor) | |||||||
| 09:00 - 10:00 |
DS-I Africa Working Group Session: Data Governance 1 hr WG Session; 1hr Open Discussion Facilitator: Dorcas Mwigereri (UZIMA-DS) Venue: Seminar Room 3 Rapporteur: Irene Kyeremaa Yeboah (DS-CHANGE) |
Themed Session: "Tracking the Tides: Innovations in Infectious Disease and Surveillance in Africa" Keynote Speaker: Christian Happi (CAMRA) Panellists: Emma Kalk (INSITE); Kristen Stafford (INFORM Africa); Jean-Baka Domelevo Entfellner (ILRI); Felecia Saah Toe (Africa CDC); Alexander Junior Yallah (Africa CDC) Facilitators: Rosemary McKaig (NIH) & Janet Midega (Wellcome) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Alfred Blay (DICE) |
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| 10:00 - 10:30 | ||||||||
| 10:30 - 11:00 | ||||||||
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Refreshment Break & ECR Poster Presentation in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
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| 11:30 - 13:00 |
Plenary Session: Data Science Ethics: Contextual Considerations and Best Practice Models for Data Sharing and Reuse in Africa Facilitators: Nchangwi Munung (PUBGEM) & Shawneequa Callier (BridgELSI) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Adeola Akintola (BridgELSI) |
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| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch in the Garden Tent | |||||||
| 14:00 - 15:30 |
Parallel Session (Open to all): State of Data Science for Health in Africa Facilitators: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) |
Parallel Session: Data Science Ethics: Contextual Considerations and Best Practice Models for Data Sharing and Reuse in Africa Facilitators: Nchangwi Munung (PUBGEM) & Shawneequa Callier (BridgELSI) Venue: Seminar Room 3 Rapporteur: Nchangwi Munung (PUBGEM) |
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| 15:30 - 16:00 | Refreshment Break & ECR Poster Presentation in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
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| 16:00 - 17:00 |
Showcase: Unlocking African Biomedical Health Data” Developments and Opportunities with the eLwazi Open Data Science Platform Speaker: Nicola Mulder (eLwazi ODSP) Facilitator: Sumir Panji (eLwazi ODSP) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Munadia Ansarie (ABI) |
Early Career Researchers Flash Talks Facilitator: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) Venue: Seminar Room 3
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| 17:00 - 18:00 |
Showcase: "African Populations Cohorts Consortium" Speaker: Kobus Herbst (APCC) Facilitator: Vitoria Pelly (Wellcome) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Agnes Kiragga (APHRC) |
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| 18:00 - 20:30 | Cultural Celebration Dinner in the Garden Tent | |||||||
| Wednesday 27 August 2025 | ||||||||
| 07:30 - 16:00 | Registration at Entrance of CEDI Conference Centre (Ground Floor) | |||||||
| 09:00 - 10:00 |
Themed Session: "Counting What Matters: Data-Driven Approaches to Mental Health in Africa" Keynote Speaker: Thomas Tagoe (University of Ghana) Panellists: Sylvia Muyingo (APHRC); Amina Abubakar (UZIMA-DS); Grace Gatera (Wellcome), Natasha Naidoo (SAMRC), Dumsani Njobo Mamba (Africa CDC), Binta Bah (Africa CDC) Facilitators: Jay Churchill (NIH) & Winnie Wefelmeyer (Wellcome) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Sophia Osawe (INFORM Africa) |
Capacity Building: Growing Africa's Data
Talent/Mentoring the Next Generation Speaker: Liezl Reid (Professional Coach, Shapeshifter Consulting) Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Jasmit Shah (UZIMA-DS) Venue: Seminar Room 3 |
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| 10:00-10:30 | ||||||||
| 10:30-11:00 | ||||||||
| 11:00 - 11:30 | Refreshment Break & ECR Poster Presentation in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
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| 11:30 - 13:00 |
Plenary Session: "Heat Waves, Air Pollution & Health in Africa" Panellists: Kofi Amegah (DICE); Matthew Chersich (HE2AT); Sibusisiwe Makhanya (MADIVA); Moustapha Tall (APHRC), Etse Yawo Dzakpa (AIMS) Facilitators: Brad Newsome (NIH) & Tatenda Makanga (CHEAQI-MNCH) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Leonard Kadege (LEAD Foundation) |
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| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch in the Garden Tent | |||||||
| 14:00 - 15:30 |
Plenary Session: "AI for ALL" Keynote Speaker: John Kamara (Afya Rekod) Panellists: Joyce Nabende (DS-I Africa TB); Agnes Kiragga (APHRC); Vukozi Marivate (University of Pretoria); Leo Celi (MUDSReH) Facilitators: Noffisat Oki (NIH) & Fred Kaggwa (MUDSReH) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Maria Namaganda (MakDARTA) |
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| 15:30 - 16:00 | Refreshment Break & Poster Presentation in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
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| 16:00 - 18:30 |
DS-I Africa WG Session: Training & Education WG 1 hr WG Session; 1hr Open Discussion Facilitators: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Jasmit Shah (UZIMA-DS) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Tshinakaho Malesa (eLwazi ODSP) |
DS-I Africa WG Session: Research Administrators WG 1hr WG Session; 1hr Open Discussion Facilitators: Brad Newsome (NIH) & Tanian Natus (DS-I Africa CC) Venue: Seminar Room 2 Rapporteur: Kerry Glover (MADIVA) & Peris Musitia (UZIMA-DS) |
DS-I Africa WG Session: Partnerships & Outreach WG 1hr WG Session; 1hr Open Discussion Facilitators: Francis Agamah (DS-I Africa CC) & Aminu Musa (INFORM Africa) Venue: Seminar Room 3 Rapporteur: Otshepeng Mazibuko (PUBGEM) |
Closed Session: State of Data Science for Health in Africa Facilitators: Lisa Omondi (APHRC) & Gloria Langmatey (DICE) Venue: Seminar Room 6 |
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| 18:30 - 20:00 |
DS-I Africa Steering Committee Meeting Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Shonna Smith (DS-I Africa CC) |
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| Thursday 28 August 2025 | ||||||||
| 09:00 - 10:00 |
Strategies to Empower Early Career Researchers
Panel Dicussion Facilitator: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) Venue: Auditorium |
DS-I Africa WG Session: Data Management WG 1hr WG Session; 1hr Open Discussion Facilitator: Natalia Blanco (INFORM Africa) Venue: Seminar Room 2 Rapporteur: Nigel Dolling (University of Ghana) & Lucinda Fry-Nartey (University of Ghana) |
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| 10:00 - 11:00 |
Showcase: “From Data to Discovery: Opportunities with the African Bioinformatics Institute” Facilitator: Munadia Ansarie (ABI) Venue: Auditorium |
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| 11:00 - 11:30 | Refreshment Break in the Auditorium Foyer | |||||||
| 11:30 - 13:00 |
Plenary Session: Data Science & Genomics Capacity Building in Africa Keynote Speaker: Peter Amoako-Yirenkyi (DS-CHANGE) Panellists: Benjamin Aribisala (DATICAN), Michele Ramsay (MADIVA), Verena Ras (Cape Nature), Yacoub Dia (GCAP), Blessing Enorioware Uteh (Africa CDC) Facilitators: Laura Povlich (NIH) & Randiak Alaro (NIH) Venue: Auditorium Rapporteur: Tshinakaho Malesa (eLwazi ODSP) |
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| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch in the Garden Tent | |||||||
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Report Back & Closing Remarks Facilitator: Michelle Skelton (DS-I Africa CC) |
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| 14:00 - 16:00 |
Working Group Report Back Data Management WG: Natalia Blanco (INFORM Africa) Data Governance WG: Dorcas Mwigereri (UZIMA-DS) Partnerships and Outreach WG: Francis Agamah (DS-I Africa CC) & Aminu Musa (INFORM Africa) Training and Education WG: Rolanda Julius (DS-I Africa CC) & Jasmit Shah (UZIMA-DS) Research Administrators WG: Brad Newsome (NIH) Session Highlight - Gaone Retshabile (D-Space), Laura Povlich (NIH) & Ekin Bolukbasi (Wellcome) Prize Giving/Closing |
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| Refreshments Available | ||||||||
| Friday 29 August 2025 | ||||||||
| 10:00 - 12:00 | Excursion [University of Ghana Botanical Gardens & University of Ghana Research Centres & Labs] | |||||||
| Closed Ad hoc Project Meetings (Pre-Arranged) | ||||||||