The Africa Centre for Inclusive Health Management has a multiskilled governing board. And hard-working. In mid-February Dr Enos Moyo had his 100th academic article published. What a milestone! Read it here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193826000161. We’re so proud of Enos as a board member AND an Africa Centre MPhil alumnus, so we did a Q&A with him to find out more about his research and to inspire current students.
How does the topic of article #100 link with your current position and academic history?
As a public health consultant, I help write research proposals, collect data and analyse it for several organisations. This article was derived from a consultancy I did for Project Hope Namibia, who was involved in a project to ensure that orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) had access to adequate education, food and healthcare. I came in as a consultant to analyse the data to tell the story of the OVC.
Which broad themes have been focal points in the other 99 articles?
I have written articles covering several themes, including HIV/Aids, maternal and child health, health economics, infectious diseases, immunisation, cancer, artificial intelligence, digital technologies and antimicrobial drug resistance.
The new article has alarming stats – what do you hope the practical outcomes will be?
I hope policymakers will review the results and implement practical strategies to reduce violence against OVC. For Namibia, this should include ensuring that reported cases are dealt with efficiently and that perpetrators are held accountable. OVC should also be provided with information on where and how to report cases of violence against them. Psychological services for victims must be available in all communities, meaning that more social workers and psychologists should be trained and deployed to remote areas.
Are these stats especially bad in Namibia or the wider sub-Saharan Africa? If so, why?
These statistics mirror the wider sub-Saharan Africa. While violence against children in general improved before Covid-19, the situation worsened during the pandemic and has not gone back to the pre-pandemic time. All forms of violence against children were higher during the pandemic because of related mental health problems caused by disruptions like lockdowns and job losses.
Can you share positive practical outcomes of other research you’ve been part of?
At the beginning of the Mpox outbreak in 2022, colleagues and I wrote an article about Africa’s capacity to diagnose and contain the disease. Some of the recommendations and practical steps taken by the Africa CDC were derived from our recommendations. We have also written an article on moving from syndromic treatment of vaginal discharge to specific pathogen-directed treatment, advocating for point-of-care tests. The evidence has motivated several governments in sub-Saharan Africa to consider point-of-care tests.
What are you working on at the moment, research-wise?
I am analysing community-led monitoring data for the Society for Family Health in Namibia, trying to see trends in discrimination, safety, staff attitudes, privacy and overall patient satisfaction at healthcare facilities. I hope the findings will help improve the quality of care in the country.
You have several qualifications, but how does your Africa Centre MPhil specifically link to your work and research?
My MPhil was instrumental in my understanding of HIV/Aids. More than half of the articles I have written are related to HIV, from knowledge of HIV to PrEP to integration of HIV services into primary healthcare.
What are your top three tips for people who choose to undertake postgraduate studies, especially if they have full-time jobs?
- Dedicate consistent study hours daily, while taking short, regular breaks.
- Communicate their schedules to their employers and families in advance.
- Break down large assignments into smaller, manageable parts that they can complete over shorter periods.
Where do you find the time to do research and what do you like doing in your free time?
Research is part of my work, so as I do public health consultancy, I will usually be conducting research. I enjoy travelling and mentoring up-and-coming researchers in my free time.
More info about our dynamic governing board: https://www.healthmanagement.sun.ac.za/team/