Mokgweetsi Masisi

M0kgweetsi Masisi participated in the ADAPT eight-week course during 2007 and the 2009 follow-up, and worked with CIET leading fieldwork in Botswana and Namibia. In 2009 he was elected as a Member of Parliament and appointed an Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration in the Office of the President in Botswana and in early 2011 he became the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration. The National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA) comes within his ministerial responsibilities. He is a strong advocate of evidence-based decision making for planners and policy makers, including in the field of HIV prevention.

“The training and experiences one got through participation in the ADAPT course sharpened ones capacity to ask the right questions to the right people. It also highlighted the essentiality of ‘fitness for purpose’ in dealing with major public health issues such as HIV/AIDS. By its construct of content and participants, it engendered a unique sense of fraternity and patriotism given that the majority were from Southern Africa – the epicentre of the HIV/AIDS burden.”

Abstracts and papers arising from participation in the ADAPT programme:

http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=177 (co-author)

Cockcroft A, Lengwe Kunda J, Kgakole L, Masisi M, Laetsang D, Ho-Foster A, Marokoane N, Andersson N. Community views of inter-generational sex: findings from focus groups in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. Psychology, Health and Medicine2010; 15 (5): 507-514 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20835961

http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=81 (co-author)

http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=170 (co-author)

Ho-Foster A, Laetsang D, Masisi M, Anderson M, Tlhoiwe D, Cockcroft A, Andersson N.. Gender-specific patterns of multiple concurrent sexual partnerships: a national cross sectional survey in Botswana.

AIDS Care 2010; 22(8): 1006-1011 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20552464

Ditiro Laetsang

Ditiro Laetsang is a Psychology graduate. She participated in the ADAPT eight week course in 2007 and has worked with CIET since then, in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. She currently leads the team undertaking the Botswana arm of a randomised controlled trial of interventions to reduce gender violence and HIV infection, taking place in Botswana, Namibia, and Swaziland.

“ADAPT has been very influential in the way I have carried out my work to date. I understand the importance of proper documentation throughout the process. Also, I understand the importance of why the trial is being carried out the way it is. I for example understand why there was randomization at the conception of the trial. I understand why it is important to stay within the boundaries of a particular site to curb contamination. In a nutshell, I have seen the need to exercise great care, diligence and attention to detail or precisely to exercise professional, informed finesse in my work. I understand. I am thankful that ADAPT came before my work [on the trial] because I in turn became a learned and informed employee.”

Abstracts and papers arising from participation in ADAPT programme:

http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=177 (co-author)

Cockcroft A, Lengwe Kunda J, Kgakole L, Masisi M, Laetsang D, Ho-Foster A, Marokoane N, Andersson N. Community views of inter-generational sex: findings from focus groups in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. Psychology, Health and Medicine2010; 15 (5): 507-514 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20835961

http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=81 (co-author)

http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=170 (presenting author)

Ho-Foster A, Laetsang D, Masisi M, Anderson M, Tlhoiwe D, Cockcroft A, Andersson N.. Gender-specific patterns of multiple concurrent sexual partnerships: a national cross sectional survey in Botswana. AIDS Care 2010; 22(8): 1006-1011 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20552464

Blackson Matatiyo

Blackson Matatiyo attended the ADAPT course in 2007. In between the two blocks of the course, he supported the CIET field survey in Malawi. Since 2007, he has continued to work as a Research Officer in the Malawi National AIDS Commission. He hopes to pursue a doctorate, with support from ADAPT, if he is able to secure leave of absence from his post.

“I enjoyed my interaction with ADAPT starting from the intensive course on AIDS prevention trials and the use of epidemiology in planning. What I liked most was its content, specifically the pragmatic approach to real life experiences. In other words the course was not theoretical as such but it was very practical. It improved my knowledge on research issues. I am a member of the IRB in my country. The interaction with ADAPT therefore helped me a lot in increasing my skills in reviewing research papers submitted for ethics approval. I am currently coordinating research at the National AIDS Commission in Malawi. The interaction also helped me to do my work without problems. ADAPT approach is very pragmatic. I also enjoyed interacting with colleagues from other countries. I am still in touch with some of these colleagues”

Gert Van Rooy

Gert Van Rooy from the Multidisciplinary Research Centre (MRC) at the University of Namibia (UNAM) attended the ADAPT course in 2007 and the follow up session in February 2009. In September 2009 he presented a paper at the AIDS Impact conference in Gaborone, Botswana, based on data from Namibia about HIV choice disability in Namibia that he analysed during the ADAPT course. He supported CIET field data collection in Namibia in 2007 and 2008 and the Namibia arm of the randomised controlled trial of HIV prevention. He is presently the head of department of the Social Sciences Division (SSD) at the MRC.

“During ADAPT, I learned to appreciate the importance of RCTs and I am currently promoting this approach in my research work.”

Abstracts and papers arising from participation in the ADAPT programme:
 
http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=86 (presenting author)

Nobantu Marokoane

Nobantu Marokoane has a BA in Education and has worked with CIET in South Africa since 2002, initially as a field worker. She attended the ADAPT eight week course in 2007 and the follow up in 2009, supporting field data collection in Swaziland and South Africa in 2007 and in Swaziland in 2008. Since 2007 she has taken on increasing responsibilities, and in 2012 she runs the CIET Trust office in Johannesburg and oversees the Swaziland arm of the CIET randomised controlled trial of gender violence and HIV prevention.

“Before attending the course I was unaware of the scope of research and its value and the course gave me tools to begin to understand the field much better.”

Abstracts and papers arising from participation in the ADAPT programme:
 
http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=177 (co-author)
 
Cockcroft A, Lengwe Kunda J, Kgakole L, Masisi M, Laetsang D, Ho-Foster A, Marokoane N, Andersson N. Community views of inter-generational sex: findings from focus groups in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. Psychology, Health and Medicine2010; 15 (5): 507-514 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20835961
 
http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=90 (co-author)
 
Cockcroft A, Andersson N, Ho-Foster A, Marokoane N, Mziyako B. What happened to multiple sexual partnerships in Swaziland? Analysis of five linked national surveys between 2002 and 2008. AIDS Care2010; 22(8) : 955-960 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20544415

Bheka Mziyako

When he attended the ADAPT course in 2007, Bheka Mziyako was working for the Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), an NGO concerned particularly with reproductive health, including HIV. He supported CIET field work in Swaziland in 2007. In 2011, he joined NERCHA (National Emergency Response Council for HIV and AIDS) as Grants Manager M&E. He is pursuing a Masters in Public Health qualification with the University of Pretoria, sponsored by ADAPT.

Abstracts and papers arising from participation in the ADAPT programme:
 
http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=90 (co-author)
 
Cockcroft A, Andersson N, Ho-Foster A, Marokoane N, Mziyako B. What happened to multiple sexual partnerships in Swaziland? Analysis of five linked national surveys between 2002 and 2008. AIDS Care2010; 22(8) : 955-960 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20544415

Mbaraka Amuri

Mbaraka Amuri, a medical doctor, worked as a research scientist at the Ifakara Health Research and Development Centre in Tanzania when he attended the ADAPT training in 2007 and follow up in 2009. In 2007, he led the fieldwork for a CIET survey on HIV knowledge and attitudes in Tanzania. He presented a paper about socio-economic status and HIV stigma in Tanzania, based on data from this survey, at the 2009 AIDS Impact conference in Gaborone, Botswana. He subsequently published a first-author paper on this topic in the journal AIDS Care.  He continues to work at the Ifakara Health Institute in Tanzania.

“ADAPT has equipped me with knowledge and hands-on skills in not only designing research studies but also I have learned how to conduct the study, analyzing data and eventually writing up papers for peer reviewed journals. The interaction with other participants and members of the faculty was great and supportive. Through the knowledge and experience I am now an investigator on a pharmacovigilance study looking into drug safety and I also managed to publish as a first author in a peer reviewed journal.”

Abstracts and papers arising from participation in the ADAPT programme:
 
http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=66 (presenting author)
 
Amuri B, Mitchell S, Cockcroft A, Andersson N. Socio-economic status and HIV and AIDS stigma in Tanzania. AIDS Care 2011; 23 (3): 378-382 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21347901

John Kunda

John Kunda was working on his doctorate in Cultural and Media Studies at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal when he attended the ADAPT training in 2007. He subsequently completed his doctorate with the support of a Commonwealth Fellowship. He supported fieldwork for the CIET surveys in Zambia and Lesotho in 2007, and in Swaziland in 2008, and supervised implementation of the Namibia arm of the CIET randomised controlled trial of gender violence and HIV prevention in 2009. He is a co-investigator for the second phase of ADAPT. In 2011, he was awarded a one year post-doctoral fellowship by the Canadian HIV prevention Trials Network (CTN) to study reasons for and handling of missing data in HIV prevention trials.

“I had a lot of interest to work in epidemiology and community-based HIV prevention. The ADAPT program provided the missing link in this switch. For someone inexperienced in epidemiology and statistics, the hands-on tailored training demystified the fear of complex statistical language by making it accessible and applicable to my experiences of research in HIV prevention. I have gone on to apply this knowledge to mentoring masters’ students in Public Health and supporting HIV prevention efforts in Zambia. The ADAPT training of 2007 stands out for me as the defining moment that opened up unlimited possibilities especially in community-based clinical trials.”

Abstracts and papers arising from participation in the ADAPT programme:
 
http://www.aidsimpact.com/2009/Academics/Programme/abstract/?id=177 (presenting author)
 
Cockcroft A, Lengwe Kunda J, Kgakole L, Masisi M, Laetsang D, Ho-Foster A, Marokoane N, Andersson N. Community views of inter-generational sex: findings from focus groups in Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland. Psychology, Health and Medicine2010; 15 (5): 507-514 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20835961

Obrian F. Nyamucherera

Obrian F. Nyamucherera, a lecturer at Great Zimbabwe University in Zimbabwe, attended the ADAPT training in 2007 and the follow up in 2009. He supported CIET field data collection in Zimbabwe and Malawi in 2007. After a period working for the Southern Africa HIV and AIDS Information Dissemination Service (SAfAIDS) in Zimbabwe, in 2010 he joined CIET to work on their project supporting evidence-based planning of health services in Nigeria, as part of the NEHSI programme. He works on this project in Cross River State, and also supports the CIET programme to train health planners from Bauchi and Cross River states.

“ADAPT enhanced my skills in research and helped me network with other researchers with similar interests from the southern African region. With the skills and networks available to me after I participated in ADAPT, I have been able to work with and for regional and international development organisations such as SAfAIDS, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance.”

Freeman Dube

Freeman Dube, research and documentation officer at the Zimbabwe National AIDS Council, attended the ADAPT training in 2007 and the follow-up in 2009. He continues to work for the NAC in Zimbabwe.

“You don’t go through the CIET research training programme and come out the same! The training has enhanced my organisation’s emphasis on evidence informed interventions throughout the national response to HIV and AIDS. I have been at the centre of my organisation’s efforts to enhance research capability through the development of the three year National HIV and AIDS Research Priorities in 2009 as well as the establishment of a small grants funding scheme for operational research. I have also coordinated the development of the HIV and AIDS Research Database as part of the broad strategy to promote use of evidence in planning interventions.”

Oscar Mundidi

Oscar Mundidi, national behaviour change coordinator at the Zimbabwe National AIDS Council, attended the ADAPT training in 2007 and the follow-up in 2009. He continues to work for the NAC in Zimbabwe.

“Due to the experience I obtained during the ADAPT training I have managed the Behaviour Change Programme in Zimbabwe through systematic baseline, process and impact evaluation of the programme. I have made presentations regionally and internationally on HIV prevention, based on lessons learnt from Zimbabwe which is regarded as a model for HIV prevention.”

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