2018 Aspen Institute New Voices Fellow. Doctor. Universal Health Coverage Advocate. Researcher. Epidemiologist. 2006 Ford Foundation International Fellow.
Skills
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Human-Centred Design
Training Facilitation
Website Design
Data Management
Organisational Management
Health Advocacy and Policy Development
Report Writiing
Technology in Healthcare
Compère (Master of Ceremony)
Writing OP-ED

Dr. Ifeanyi M. Nsofor is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Nigeria Health Watch and CEO of EpiAFRIC. He studied as a Ford Foundation International Fellow and obtained a Masters in Community Health degree at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool. A medicine/surgery gradutae of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. He is an alumnus of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Executive Education on Strategic Frameworks for Nonprofit Organizations. Ifeanyi was a 2016 DAAD/EXCEED Scholar on Modern Teaching Methods at Ludwig- Maximillian University, Munich, Germany.

For 19 years post- graduation, he worked at Nigeria’s National Programme on Immunization, TY Danjuma Foundation, Pathfinder International, Micronutrient Initiative, Nigeria Health Watch and EpiAfric. In the last 4 years, he has led 15 research projects across Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Ghana and several Nigerian States.

He has worked in 36 States, across all 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Ifeanyi was Co-Lead for the evaluation of performance of the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission in controlling Ebola Virus Disease and restoring health services in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

He leads EpiAFRIC’s Health Meets Tech portfolio designed to create an ecosystem of tech and health practitioners, who will develop locally-relevant tech solutions to improve health in Nigeria. 

Education
Masters in Community Health Degree
University of LiverpoolJan 2007 – Dec 2007

Health Planning and Financing. Epidemiological Methods and Statistics. Qualitative Research Methods. Research Design. Disease Control. Organisational Management. Principles and Methods of Critical Appraisal. Dissertation. Topics in International Health. 

 

Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, NigeriaFeb 1992 – October 1998
Short Courses Attended

May 2017: The World Bank Impact Evaluation Workshop, Lagos, Nigeria

August 2016: Modern teaching Methods, Ludwig-Maximillian University, Munich, Germany

Oct 2012 – Jan 2013: Health in Numbers: Quantitative Methods in Clinical & Public Health Research, Harvard School of Public Health. Via www.edx.org

January – March 2013: Nutrition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; University of California San Francisco. Via www.coursera.org   

January – March 2013: Health for all Through Primary Health Care, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health www.coursera.org

April 2012 – June 2012: Executive Education – Strategic Frameworks for Nonprofit Organizations, Harvard Kennedy School July 2012: Global Health Short Course, Imperial College London

July 2012: Current Legal Issues Colloquium: Law & Global Health, University College London

July 2009: Global Health Summer School, Oxford University

July 2007: Advanced Methods of Cost-effectiveness Analysis, Oxford University

Experience
Chief Executive Officer
EpiAFRIC2016 – date

§   Team Lead of EpiAFRIC’s Health Meets Tech portfolio designed to create an ecosystem of tech and health practitioners who will develop locally-relevant tech solutions to improve health in Nigeria.

§   Evaluation of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system with focus on Tuberculosis across 7 States in Nigeria.

§   National Consultant – Save the Children’s Child Development Grant Program Community Volunteer Qualitative Research Study in Jigawa and Zamfara States

§   Lead Consultant – Rapid Assessment of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) with focus on Tuberculosis in Niger, Bauchi, Abuja, Kano, Lagos, Rivers and Anambra States

§   Team lead – Reversible Male Contraceptives in Nigeria Preference Survey in Abuja, Lagos and Kano States

§   Team Lead – Monitoring and Evaluation Support to InStrat on the Early Warning Outbreak Recognition System in Lagos and Ondo States

Director of Policy and Advocacy
Nigeria Health Watch2016 – date

§   Team Lead for Policy and Advocacy initiatives at Nigeria Health Watch

§   Team Lead for #Health4AllNaija Universal Health Coverage project, supported by Christian Aid UK Nigeria

§   Anchor of Radio Shows that Nigeria Health Watch hosts in partnership with different radio stations.

§   Writer on www.nigeriahealthwatch.com

§   Member of Management of Nigeria Health Watch

Director of Consulting Services
Nigeria Health Watch2014 – 2016

§   Co-Lead for the evaluation of performance of the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission in controlling Ebola Virus Disease and restoring health services in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

§   Co-Lead for a documentary research of an Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) project in Kaduna, Plateau, Bauchi, Sokoto and Kano States.

§   Team Lead for the midterm (quantitative and qualitative) review of SURE-P MCH project across 6 States (Kaduna, Niger, Bauchi, Ogun, Bayelsa and Anambra) in Nigeria. The SURE-P MCH project was established to improve health service delivery for maternal and child health at the primary health care levels across Nigeria.

§   Team Lead baseline assessment for Integrated Response to Public Health Emergencies in Nigeria project. Involves implementing the International Health Regulation at Air and Land Ports of Entry in Nigeria.

§   Team Lead for end of project evaluation of Christian Aid’s Strengthening Community Health and HIV/AIDS Response- SCHH Project in Benue, Plateau and Abuja FCT.

§   Team Lead for the end of project evaluation (quantitative and qualitative) of a project funded by Christina Aid to reduce HIV- related stigma and discrimination, strengthen care and support for people living with HIV and improve their economic wellbeing in Plateau State and the federal capital territory, Abuja.

§   Co-team Lead for Christian Aid Nigeria scoping research to examine the feasibility of rolling out or supporting the roll out of a community-based health insurance scheme across communities where they intervene.

§   Co-Lead in snap opinion polls jointly conducted by EpiAfric and NOI polls to unpack public perceptions on Ebola, cardiovascular disease and Lassa Fever.

§   Regularly appear on radio to discuss important health issues such as Ebola, maternal health, cardiovascular disease etc.

§   Manage the consulting department, projects undertaken as consultancies, individuals, resources and all processes involved.

Previous Appointments
1999 – 2014

JULY 2012 – APRIL 2014

Senior Programme Officer (community Health Initiatives), TY Danjuma Foundation, Abuja, Nigeria

§   Led the Foundation’s grant making in community health and also provided managerial oversight for grant making in education

and income generation thematic areas. Provided oversight for NGOs implementing project worth at least US$1 million annually

 

JANUARY 2012 – JUNE 2012

Senior Programme Officer, Maternal & Newborn Health & Nutrition, Micronutrient Initiative, Abuja

§   Managed the organisation’s support to the Nigerian government on iron and folic acid supplements for pregnant women;

 

MARCH 2012 – APRIL 2012

Consultant for Desktop Review of Community Component of Global Fund HIV and AIDS Program in Nigeria, NACA

§   Provided evidence of performance, achievements, challenges and lessons learnt in implementing the Global fund BCC and care and support components of the grant in Nigeria since the implementation of Global Fund Round 5 to date;

 

MAY 2010 – JANUARY 2012

Programme Officer, Community Health Initiatives, TY Danjuma Foundation, Abuja

§   Managed projects of eleven (11) grantees with annual funding to the tune of $2.3 million. The grantees interventions included maternal/child health interventions, water/sanitation, free medical missions, sexual and reproductive health

 

SEPTEMBER 2008 – JANUARY 2012

Research Client to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

§   Over 3 years, I provided mentorship to 3 students who researched on: Neglected Tropical Diseases in Taraba State (published in the Peking University Journal); Family planning in Kaduna State and Post-Partum Haemorrhage in Oyo State

 

MARCH 2008 – MAY 2010

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, PPH Project, Pathfinder International, Abuja

§   In-charge of evidence generation for a project on Post-Partum Haemorrhage, Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor, use of the Non-pneumatic Anti-shock Garment for management of PPH, blood loss estimation by the use of blood drape

 

JULY 2007 – SEPTEMBER 2007

Overseas qualitative research/budget analysis, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine

§   The research included budget analysis and viewed the subject matter along equity scales; Chama district (most disadvantaged and Lusaka district (most advantaged). The research lasted 8 weeks and was also my dissertation submitted to the University of Liverpool for the award of a Masters in Community Health degree.

 

MARCH 2006 – JUNE 2006

Short-term Consultant, Epidemiological Survey of Enugu state, southeast, Nigeria Hanovia Medical Ltd. (Health Management Consultants)

§   Determined/Analyzed the status of the State Disease Surveillance and Notification and the Emergency Preparedness and Response to Disasters and Disease Epidemics. Over a three-year period: 2003-2005

 

SEPTEMBER 2002 – DECEMBER 2006

Principal Technical Officer, National Programme on Immunization, Abuja

§   Travelled extensively around Nigeria training immunization service providers, supervising and monitoring the conduct of routine and supplemental immunization campaigns especially the global polio eradication initiative.

 

JANUARY 2002 – SEPTEMBER 2002

Personal Assistant to the National Coordinator/Chief Executive National Programme on Immunization, Area 11, Abuja, Nigeria

§   Coordinated all administrative and some technical information as regards immunization service delivery in Nigeria.

 

AUGUST 2000 – JULY 2001

Medical Officer (National Youth Service Corps) Guards Brigade Medical Centre, Mambila Barracks, Abuja

§   Coordinated general patient care and management, antenatal clinics, immunization, laboratory and pharmaceuticals

 

MARCH 1999 – DECEMBER 1999

Medical Officer, The Children’s Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State

§   Consultations in the out-patient paediatric specialist clinic; admitted, stabilized patients and oversaw bedside laboratory.

 

JUNE 1999 – MAY 2000

House Officer (Intern) Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State

§   Participated in Clinical rotations in paediatrics and internal medicine, surgery and obstetrics and gynaecology.

Papers Written/Published

1.    Nsofor, Ifeanyi. African Expertise Key to Stopping Ebola – Then and Now. https://allafrica.com/stories/201808160003.html

2.    Nsofor, Ifeanyi. How tech can help win the fight against neglected tropical diseases. http://africanarguments.org/2018/06/19/tech-help-win-fight-against-neglected-tropical-diseases/. June 2018 

3.    Nsofor, Ifeanyi. Nigeria: Making Sense of a Young Doctor’s Death. http://allafrica.com/stories/201806060763.html. June 2018 

4.    Nsofor, Ifeanyi. Opinion: Only 1 percent of Nigerians have health insurance. Here’s how to change that. https://www.devex.com/news/opinion-only-1-percent-of-nigerians-have-health-insurance-here-s-how-to-change-that-92441. April 2018

5.    Xie Z, Nsofor I, Tolhurst R. Evaluation on implementation of the African programme for onchocerciasis control in Nigeria Journal of Peking University (Health sciences). 2012 Jun  18;44(3):403-6.

6. March 2011: Efforts to stem the neglect of neglected tropical diseases, available at http://www.tydanjumafoundation.org/wp- content/uploads/Efforts-to-stem-the-neglect-of-NTDs.pdf

7. December 2007: Poster presentation of research work (Antiretroviral scale up in Chama and Lusaka Districts of Zambia: How Free is Free?) at the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Research in Progress Short Presentations and Posters & Manson Christmas lecture held at the Khalili Lecture Theatre, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London