CEMA-Africa

12/12/2025

from CEMA!

Today, we celebrate the resilience and determination of Kenyans whose contributions continue to propel our nation forward.
May this day inspire a renewed commitment to building a stronger, more prosperous Kenya for all.

12/12/2025

What a week of celebrations! 🎉

Today, we’re excited to celebrate Carolyne Masaku, an MSc Fellow at CEMA, who graduated yesterday with an MSc in Data Science from the University of Nairobi! 🎓

Carolyne is passionate about using data to drive social impact—particularly in health—and we couldn’t be prouder of her achievement.

Join us in celebrating this milestone! 👏

Well done, Carolyne!

11/12/2025

New Publication Alert! 🎉

Congratulations to Dr. Sam Kahariri, Anita Makori, Brian Njuguna and colleagues on their new publication: “Integrating surveillance for human and animal brucellosis in Kenya: a predictive analysis.”

The study exposes critical gaps in Kenya’s human–animal surveillance systems and calls for stronger, integrated approaches to improve early detection and response to zoonotic diseases.

A big win for advancing One Health surveillance.

Read more: https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/12/344

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease which poses a significant public health challenge globally.

10/12/2025

🎉 Congratulations to Nell Valentine (L) & Nicole Ashley (R) on your graduation!

We are proud to celebrate Nell Valentine, Epidemiology Intern, on graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology — and Nicole Ashley Muthoni, Data Science Intern, on graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

Your hard work, dedication, and passion for advancing the future of health through data continue to inspire us. We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for you.

Well done, graduates! 🎓✨

09/12/2025

We’re celebrating one of our own! 🎊

Huge congratulations to Dr. Patricia Nyokabi, who has successfully defended her PhD in Health Technologies Assessment (HTA) at the University of Mahidol, Thailand.

She marked this incredible milestone surrounded by family and colleagues.

Dr. Patricia is an HTA specialist at CEMA and serves on the Benefits Package and Tariffs Advisory Panel (BPTAP) Secretariat, which provides expert guidance to the Ministry of Health on designing and reviewing the health benefits packages and tariffs under the Social Health Insurance Framework.

08/12/2025

Opportunity Alert!

CEMA is looking for a Scientific Coordinator with a passion for health research and strong skills in scientific coordination.

The ideal candidate will support the smooth ex*****on of clinical research projects, strengthen collaboration across scientific teams, and help maintain robust relationships within CEMA’s national and continental research networks.

If this sounds like you—or someone you know—please send your application to recruit-sccema@uonbi.ac.ke by Friday, December 19, 2025.

Find more details on our website here: https://cema-africa.uonbi.ac.ke/careers

03/12/2025

It’s , and today the beam lands on Victoria Jemutai, a Data Science Intern at CEMA with a background in epidemiology and biostatistics!

Victoria has always been driven by the power of science to improve lives, and she’s charting her path in data-driven health with curiosity and confidence.

Watch the video to hear how she found her way to CEMA and what a typical day looks like in her world of coding, analysis, and impact.

With passionate young scientists like Victoria, the future of health is certainly bright — and powered by data.

02/12/2025

Looking forward to hosting tomorrow’s webinar on how modelling is shaping the HIV response!

Join us here: https://shorturl.at/VcDW9

Don’t miss out!

📅Save the Date!

Our next CEMA Seminar Series lands on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 12:00 pm EAT.

Join the game-changing session with Dr. Kennedy Mutai, Senior Research Associate in Infectious Diseases Mathematical Modelling at the University of Bristol, UK and discover how infectious disease modelling is shaping HIV policy and programming.

Scan the QR code to register or click here: https://shorturl.at/VcDW9

Don’t miss out!

01/12/2025

This year’s theme, “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” calls on us to stay united and focused on ending HIV.

In 2024 alone, 40.8 million people were living with HIV, 1.3 million acquired HIV, and 630,000 died from HIV-related illnesses (WHO). Kenya recorded nearly 20,000 new infections in the past year—mostly among youth aged 15–24 (NSDCC).

Despite major progress in treatment, millions still struggle to access and stay on care, underscoring the need for simpler, safer, and more adaptable options.

CEMA is proud to contribute to research advancing safer, more flexible HIV treatments for adults in Africa.

The IMPALA study, a 24-month randomized controlled trial conducted in partnership with the Medical Research Council and the Uganda Virus Research Institute—with support from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the Johnson & Johnson —found that long-acting injectable treatment (CAB LA + RPV LA) is non-inferior to the standard dolutegravir-based pill. For patients facing long-standing adherence challenges, injectables provided an equally effective option—without the daily pill burden.

The path to transformation is already unfolding—and collaboration is what will carry it forward.

Read: https://shorturl.at/48sMH

27/11/2025

📅Save the Date!

Our next CEMA Seminar Series lands on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 12:00 pm EAT.

Join the game-changing session with Dr. Kennedy Mutai, Senior Research Associate in Infectious Diseases Mathematical Modelling at the University of Bristol, UK and discover how infectious disease modelling is shaping HIV policy and programming.

Scan the QR code to register or click here: https://shorturl.at/VcDW9

Don’t miss out!

26/11/2025

On today’s , we shine the light on Solomon Kipkirui, a software engineer at CEMA with a background in Geospatial Information Science. He shares what inspired him to step into the health research space and the skills he has gained during his time at CEMA.

For Solomon, the most exciting part of his journey has been working on solutions that directly impact communities—while growing both technically and personally.

Watch his inspiring story below and see why the future of public health needs brilliant young minds like him.

25/11/2025

New Publication Alert!

A new paper published in Nature Scientific Reports, co-authored by Dr. Mathew Muturi, Prof. Thumbi Mwangi, and colleagues, sheds light on how Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) persists in Northern Kenya between major outbreaks. Understanding what happens during these quiet periods is essential for early detection and faster response.

The study was conducted from March 2022 to May 2023, the team tracked 1,938 livestock and 814 livestock keepers to measure new infections and identify what drives them. They found that:

☑️ 113 new livestock infections over 805 animal-years

☑️ 15 human infections over 629 person-years

☑️ Age and s*x did not significantly influence human risk

☑️ Low-level transmission among animals, people, and vectors appears to keep the virus alive between outbreaks.

These insights highlight the need for routine testing of blood samples, continuous community awareness, and targeted interventions before the next outbreak.

Most importantly, having reliable, on-the-ground data plays a critical role in guiding early warnings, risk assessment, and public health decisions—without it, these efforts are significantly constrained.

Read more here: https://rb.gy/n7s3nf