The Director of the Kintampo Health Research Centre, Dr Kwaku Poku Asante, has been elected the Chairman of the Africa Chapter Council of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE).

The ISEE is an international scientific association in environmental epidemiology that impacts research, training and policy worldwide.

Members

Other members of the executive council are Oyewale Morakinyo, Nigeria (Deputy Chair); Sylvia Akpene Takyi, Ghana (Secretary/Treasurer); Wondwossen Birke, Ethiopia (Councilor); Aqiel Dalvie, South Africa (Councilor); Paul Musa Obadia, Democratic Republic of Congo (Councilor); Firdu Zawide, Ethiopia (Ex-Officio member) and Eric Coker, USA/conducting research in Uganda (Ex-Officio member).

Promote research

“I am excited about being elected as chair of this reputable society. This provides an opportunity to showcase Ghana’s leadership role in international public health research and policy,” Dr Asante said.

He said during his three year tenure, he would promote diverse membership of other environmental researchers on the continent as well as visibility of African research locally and internationally.

Furthermore, he said he would work to promote mentorship programmes for students and junior researchers leveraging on expertise that exist within ISEE as a whole in Africa.

“Ultimately, I will promote the use of ISEE research for international public health policies to improve health in Ghana and internationally,” he added.

ISEE Africa

The Africa Chapter of ISEE was established by the ISEE Council in September 2016 to promote contact between and action by African members on matters related to environmental health.

It was also formed to strengthen epidemiological research and capacity development in environmental health and to improve public health outcomes in Africa.

The chapter includes all 47 countries that correspond to the World Health Organisation (WHO), African Region.