Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr Mandidayingeyi Hellen Machingauta
Home country: Zimbabwe
Email: MCHMAN015@myuct.ac.za
Proposed malaria research
In Zimbabwe an estimated 68% of the population is at risk of contracting malaria annually. Understanding the local epidemiology of malaria, is crucial to achieving control and elimination. Elimination and control efforts need to take cognizance of mobility patterns as well as climatic conditions as these can significantly influence prevalence and transmission of malaria. A metapopulation model will be developed using the malaria stratification zones in Zimbabwe, exploring climate change and how it affects transmission. Different scenarios and intervention strategies will be explored to identify the optimal policies for each stratification zone.
Dr Stephanie Gathoni Kamunya
Home country: Kenya
Email: KMNSTE005@myuct.ac.za
Proposed malaria research:
The Effectiveness of Current Malaria Control Measures given the Establishment of Anopheles stephensi in Kenya.
The establishment of Anopheles stephensi threatens the gains of malaria control in Kenya. The project aims to develop models predicting the spread and impact of this vector in Kenya. The population at risk landscape will be greatly affected as this vector poses a threat to the urban population however current strategies are focused on the rural population. Using geospatial and infectious disease modelling, data will be used to inform the policies.