Engaging Policy Makers in Health Research Webinar
Mar 18 2024 | 3 - 4pm CAT
Dr. Frank Njenga
Dr. Frank Njenga graduated as a doctor from the University of Nairobi in 1975. He subsequently obtained the Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 1980, after training at the Maudsley Hospital in London. He was later elected Fellow of the Royal College.
He taught at the University of Nairobi before venturing into full time private practice in 1983. Through the media, public lectures as well as talks to professional bodies and schools, he was, for a long time the public face of mental health in Kenya.
Over the years, he has led the campaign against stigma of mental health using among other methods, the mass media. His T.V series, (Frankly Speaking) broke the silence over mental health issues and led Kenyans to embrace the message that mental illness is common and treatable.
He is the author of several books, including a textbook of psychiatry, numerous scientific publications as well as a long running weekly column in the Business Daily. His latest book Healing the Mind, published in 2022 is a compilation of articles published over the last 15 years addressing common mental health issues including family and business challenges.
In public life, he served as Chairman NACADA (National Campaign Against Drug Abuse) and was founder Chairman of AAPAP. (Association of African Psychiatrists and Allied Professions). He is the founder and Chairman of the Chiromo Hospital Group.
Most recently he was the Chairman of the National Taskforce on Mental Health and subsequently was the Presidential Advisor on Mental health in Kenya.
Dr. Kagiso Ndlovu
Health Informatics Manager, Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital
Previously served as Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Coordinator for the eHealth Research Unit at the University of Botswana (UB). Founding chairman of the Digital Health Technical Working Group (TWG) under the Ministry of Health in Botswana. Academic and professional background in Computer Science, Health Informatics, Socio-Informatics (Hons), and specialization in Telemedicine (PhD). Dr. Ndlovu has expertise in Project Management (PRINCE2). He has over 10 years experience working in health informatics research and capacity building initiatives in Botswana. His prior engagements focused on telemedicine and health informatics initiatives within resource-constraint environments. Dr. Ndlovu previously served as a Project Manager in 2014 for the implementation and scale-up of the first Mobile Telemedicine solution (also known as Kgonafalo) under the Botswana Ministry of Health; a Research Lead in 2015 on a telemedicine project funded by Microsoft Corporation, utilizing Television (TV) White Space technology to augment traditional broadband internet connectivity within healthcare facilities in Botswana, a Research Coordinator for a national school eye screening program (PEEK Vision) which was piloted on over 12,000 school going kids in Botswana. He is currently the Principal Investigator and implementation partner for a mobile clinical decision support system (VisualDx) implementation in Botswana. Dr. Ndlovu is part of a team which completed the President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) funded Grant for Informatics and Telemedicine in Botswana where together with his team, they built Capacity and Sustainable Programs in Health Informatics and Mobile Telemedicine through implementation of sustainable national scale-up models for telemedicine solutions as well as sustainable capacity building. Dr. Ndlovu participated in health informatics curriculum development in Botswana and teaching of the Health Informatics introductory course at the University of Botswana and contributed to the review and implementation of the Botswana National eHealth Strategy. Dr. Ndlovu’s research focus is on developing an evidence-based interoperability framework for linking mHealth solutions with other eRecord systems for Botswana and similar developing countries.