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 Speakers: Bubacarr Bah (MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM), Mercy Lung'aho (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)), Henri Tonnang (IITA), John Woodland (University of Cape Town), Jason Hlozek (University of Cape Town), Mayowa Ojo Owolabi (University of Ibadan), Muideen Olaiya (Monash University), Oluchi Maduka (University of Ibadan), Anthony A. Ofosu (University of Ghana) Facilitator: Emile R. Chimusa (Northumbria University) Moderator: Sylvia Muyingo (APHRC) 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" Keynote Speaker: Gueladio Cisse 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) | ||||||||