PhD students
Edward Akurugu
Home country: Ghana
Email: AKREDW001@myuct.ac.za
Proposed malaria research:
Mathematical modelling approaches towards malaria elimination in varying ecological zones of Ghana
Malaria is perennial in all parts of Ghana, and this is coupled with seasonal variations across the varying ecological zones. The research will focus on developing mathematical models tailored to address the impact of climate change and malaria transmission in Ghana’s ecological zones purposely to support the drive towards malaria elimination in the country.
Hilja Hambeleleni Eelu
Home country: Namibia
Email: ELXHIL001@myuct.ac.za
Proposed malaria research
On the path to elimination: A model of cost-effective malaria control interventions at the Namibian borders of Angola and Zambia
This study will generate the evidence to support proposed sub-national policies and optimise control interventions in our low transmission setting, translate parasite genomic data into epidemiologically relevant metrics and design an investment case for border clinics towards Namibia’s elimination goals.
Levoniah Chakuvinga
Home country: Zimbabwe
Email: CHKLEV003@myuct.ac.za
Proposed malaria research
Malaria control in Zimbabwe: modelling the effect of house screening and intermittent preventative treatment in pregnancy (IPTp)
With the growing evidence of resistance to chemical-based malaria vector interventions, it is important to consider alternative non-chemical-based innovations for vector control such as house screening. The project aims to quantify the impact house screening has in malaria prevention and reduction effect in Zimbabwe against the backdrop that it has been successful in other countries. In Zimbabwe 3% of maternal deaths are due to malaria, hence effective provision of IPTp is a priority for this highly at-risk group. Mathematical modelling will be used to assess the effect of IPTp on mortality in pregnant women and low birth weights in newborns.
Mapahla Lovemore
Home country: Zimbabwe
Email: MPHLOV001@myuct.ac.za
Proposed malaria research
Use of mathematical modelling to assess the impact of artemisinin resistance on malaria elimination in Southern Africa.
Main objective:
The main objective is to combat the spread of artemisinin resistance, enabling disruption of malaria transmission resulting from recrudescent infections. The intention is to show how artemisinin resistant mutations proliferate within the human host, highlight its evolutionary processes and most importantly generate evidence to inform policy.
Owolabi Yusuf
Home country: Nigeria
Email: YSFOWO001@myuct.ac.za
Proposed malaria research
Malaria Transmission Dynamics in Southwest, Nigeria: A mathematical modelling approach. The study seeks to describe the transmission of malaria in Nigeria and develop transmission models that describe the dynamics of the disease and investigate the impact of various interventions on the possible eradication of malaria.
Randolph Ngwafor Anye
Home country: Cameroon
Email: randolph.ngwaforanye@wolfson.ox.ac.uk
Proposed malaria research
The aim of my PhD will be to:
Identify from the literature optimisation models used for malaria programming
Use the knowledge from these models to develop an optimisation model adapted to Cameroon’s context
Explore the application of the model using country-specific data to meet the malaria targets for Cameroon by 2030 and beyond.
Takura Kupamupindi
Home country: Zimbabwe
Email: KPMTAK001@myuct.ac.za
Proposed malaria research
Malaria modelling in Manicaland province, Zimbabwe