Be it COVID-19, TB, or early childhood immunisation, the public health system is continually needing to adapt and adjust health provision policy to maximise the delivery of health services to the population. Increases in health surveillance, clinical trials and digitised systems have resulted in numerous datasets becoming available to support health planning. Even where data are sparse, decisions still need to be made. Statistics and mathematical modelling are in a unique position to leverage these datasets to provide a scientific evidence base to decision makers.  This talk will present past and current applications of mathematical disease modelling
conducted at MASHA in various aspects of public health in South Africa and globally, and reflect on the role we can all play in shaping the future of health provision.

The Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) is a research group in the Department of Statistical Sciences at the University of Cape Town. MASHA’s research focus is the development and application of mathematical modelling and computer simulation to predict the dynamics
and control of infectious diseases to evaluate the impact of policies aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality. Based in the Faculty of Science, MASHA’s research is closely integrated with other disciplines resulting in policy-driven and impactful scientific research. MASHA has supported decision-making in shaping infectious disease policy in several countries around the
world.

Associate Professor Sheetal Silal is the Director of the Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) and Associate Professor in the Department of Statistical Sciences at the University of Cape Town (UCT). She has been an Honorary Visiting Research Fellow in Tropical Disease Modelling at the Nuffield Department of Medicine at Oxford University since
2017. She received a PhD in Mathematical Modelling of Infecti0us Diseases in 2014 from UCT. Her primary research area is the development and application of mathematical transmission models of malaria, COVID-19, pertussis, syphilis, and other infectious diseases in South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa and globally, with a focus on using mathematical models
to predict the dynamics and control of diseases to evaluate the potential impact of control programmes in reducing morbidity and mortality and supporting policy development. Prof Sheetal Silal led the development of the COVID-19 dynamic transmission models as part of the South African COVID-19 Modelling Consortium; a group of researchers tasked to provide, assess and validate model projections to be used for planning purposes by the Government of South Africa. She serves on several working groups of the South African National Advisory Group on Immunization and is a member of the WHO Immunization and Vaccine Implementation Research Advisory Committee.

RSVP:
for catering purposes please RSVP by sending an email to elhaam.taladia@uct.ac.za  by  September, 22nd