Samwel Nyamweya

Supervisors

Dr. Benjamin Tsofa

Dr. Benjamin Tsofa

Centre Director, KEMRI, CGMRC

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Dr Tsofa is the Center Director for the KEMRI Centre for Geographic Medical Research – Coast. Tsofa trained in Dental Surgery at the University of Nairobi, and in Leadership and Management at KIA and MSH. He moved to Kilifi in 2004 as a clinical dentist, was appointed Deputy Hospital Superintendent in 2005, and then as District Medical Officer of Health for Kilifi District in 2006. As DMOH, working closely with Prof Marsh and Dr Peshu, he set up the KEMRI/MOH District Managers group and drafted the Programme’s MOH engagement policy guidelines. Tsofa took study leave from the Ministry and joined the Programme in April 2009 to coordinate the interactions of the Programme and the two ministries of health in Kenya.

Nyamweya undertook a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing ( Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology), after which he got an opportunity to work with the USAID under the Site Improvement through Monitoring Systems (SIMS) programme , through which he gained more insight into the state of health systems in Kenya. In addition, he has also worked with LVCT-Health undertaking community health research where he gained skills and knowledge on community health research. During this period he developed an interest in health systems which prompted him to enroll for a Masters of Public Health at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, of which he is currently pursuing.

Presently, he is an IDeAL MSc fellow, working with Dr. Benjamin Tsofa and Dr. Jacinta Nzinga on Health Systems Research, focusing on the factors influencing career choices of graduate nurses trained in semi-urban settings. He hopes to further his career in Health Systems and help in scaling up the Health Systems in Kenya.