Geofrey Amanya

MSc. CEB (MUK), MSc (Ghent University), Field Epidemiology Fellow (UPHFP)
Email: gamanya@musph.ac.ug
Telephone: +256-777-100-032

Host Site: Butabika National Mental Hospital

Host Mentors: Dr Brian Byamah, Mutamba

ABOUT THE FELLOW

Geofrey Amanya holds a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Makerere University. I joined this program in 2020 and what captured my mind is the training through service in applied epidemiology and public health leadership. I have been equipped with knowledge and skills through a hands-on experience. The program has complemented my previous training by engaging me in large dataset analyses, scientific writing, national level meetings, scientific presentations, trainings to mention but a few, hence building my capacity. I have attained a spirit of excellence and problem-solving skills in my practice as an epidemiologist. During my time as a Fellow, I was attached to the Butabika Hospital. While there, I led various trainings and supervisions, supporting mainly the strategic information and the prevention arms of the program and data systems reviews.


  Achievements at the Host Site

  • National trainer eIDSR trainer.
  • Supported Case management pillar
  • Published with the program
  • Drafted Policy papers
  • GIS Trainer

Program-specific deliverablesOutbreak investigations and other projects

  • I led an investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 in HBC Rwenzori Region.
  • I also led an investigation of COVID-19 in Mental health clients Butabika Hospital
  • I supported a POPCAB and Risk boarder mapping for COVID-19, Sep 2019
  • I supported Malaria deaths surveillance in LUKA districts
  • Supported malaria activities in Kakumiro districts
  • I co-investigated an outbreak of Measles in Isingiro distrct, Uganda, March 2020
  • I co-investigated an outbreak of Anthrax Outbreak in Rubirizi distrct, Uganda, March 2020
  • I co-investigated an outbreak of RVF in Moyo distrct, Uganda, June 2021
  • I co-investigated an outbreak of Brucellosis in Moyo distrct, Uganda, June 2021
  • I co- investigated the first outbreak of COVID-19 in school, Kampala, Uganda, November 2020
  • I analyzed program data on Graduation of OVC
  • I analyzed Risk factors for Comorbidities among Hospitalized clients at C19Tus
  • I supported a project for Implementing descriptive project on Drug and alcohol abuse Butabika Uganda, January-December 2018
  • I implemented QI activities on Cervical cancer

Conference Presentations

  • Oral presentation on Classification of Anthrax as a public good disease at the Inaugural One health conference African Union, African CDC, October 2021
  • Oral presentation on individual risk and house hold risk factors for COVID-19 in Home based care at the National Field Epidemiology Conference and HBC Sub Pillar, Kampala 2021.
  • Oral presentation on Cost effectiveness Cost effectiveness of Airport screening Programmes of Airport screening Programmes at the National Field Epidemiology Conference, Kampala, 2020

Written Communication

  • Editor of Volume 4 issue 2 October-December 2020 Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH) epi bulletin
  • Authored three articles in the UNIPH epi bulletin
  • Drug and Alcohol Abuse Butabika Hospital, Uganda, July-September 2020
  • Individual risk and house hold risk factors for COVID-19 in Home based care Jan -March 2021

 

  • Cost effectiveness of Airport screening Programmes October-December 2020

Policy Brief

  • Classification of Anthrax as a public good disease
  • Cost effectiveness of Airport screening Programmes
  • Epidemiological characterization of first and second wave

Newspaper Article

  • Why aren’t diseases like HIV and Malaria, which still kill millions of people annually not pandemics, published in the New Vision dated 19 July 2021
  • Flying Blind, Importance of data in Outbreak managements

Manuscripts written

  • Manuscript on Factors Risk factors for Comorbidities and risk factors associated with poor outcomes amongst 10,390 hospitalized COVID-19 cases, Uganda, 2021 Undergoing review by Scientific reviewer
  • Manuscript on Factors Investigation of an outbreak of COVID-19 among clients attending psychiatric clinics at a national referral mental hospital, Uganda Undergoing review by Scientific reviewer
  • Manuscript on Factors Individual and household risk factors for COVID-19 infection in households of infected persons in home-based care in western Uganda, 2020, Undergoing CDC Review
  • Manuscript on Factors Cost analysis for outbreak investigation and Cost-effectiveness analysis for re-classifying Anthrax as a public good disease in Uganda, 2021 Undergoing Scientific review
  • Manuscript on Factors Cost effectiveness and decision analysis for evaluation of the national airport screening options in COVID-19 surveillance in Uganda, 2020 Undergoing CDC Review
  • Manuscript on Factors Predictors of graduation from HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) programmes in Rwenzori region, Uganda Undergoing Scientific review


Summary of Epidemiological Study: 

 Title: Individual and household risk factors for COVID-19 infection in households of infected persons in home based care in western Uganda, 2020


Authors: Geofrey Amanya1, Peter Elyanu2, Richard Migisha1, Daniel Kadobera1, Alex Riolexus Ario2, Julie R. Harris3

Organizational affiliations. Uganda Public Health Fellowship Program, National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda 2Baylor College of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda 3Division of Global Health Protection, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kampala, Uganda Correspondence email: Geofrey Amanya; geofreyamanya@gmail.com, Telephone: +256-777-100-032

Background: During November 2020, an increase in COVID-19 cases was reported among household members of COVID-19 patients managed using the home-based care (HBC) strategy in western Uganda. We identified factors associated with COVID-19 infections among these household members.

Methods: We conducted a case-control and cohort study. Cases were PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections diagnosed from 1-30 November 2020 among persons in HBC in Kasese or Kabarole Districts. We compared case-households (≥1 secondary case) to control-households (no secondary cases). The cohort included all case-household members. Data were captured by in-person questionnaire. We used logistic regression and generalised linear regression to calculate odds ratios and risk ratios.

Results: We identified 78 case-households and 59 control-households. Case-households were larger than control-households (mean 5.8 vs 4.3 members, p<0.0001). Having ≥1 household member per room (OR=4.3, 95%CI 2.0-9.6) and a coughing primary case-patient (aOR=8.0, 95%CI 2.1-30.5) increased odds of case-household status. Assessment for suitability for HBC reduced odds of case-household status (OR=0.4, 95%CI=0.2-0.8). Being ≥40 years of age (OR=1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.9), interacting with the primary case-patient (RR=1.6, 95%CI 1.2-2.2), and self-described lack of knowledge about HBC (RR=1.5, 95%CI 1.2-1.8) increased individual risk.

Conclusion:

Household and individual factors influence secondary infection risk in HBC. Decisions about HBC should be made with these in mind.

Lessons Learnt

  • During the fellowship, I learnt and developed the following skill sets:
  • Conducting outbreak investigations
  • Evaluating and strengthening surveillance systems
  • Project designing, implementation monitoring and evaluation
  • Scientific writing and presentation; manuscripts, abstracts and policy briefs
  • Editorial skills for scientific articles
  • Public speaking
  • Data collection and analysis with different soft ware
  • Networking skills
  • Balancing work and family and multitasking
  • Time management during project implementation

 


Key lessons learnt during the fellowship

  • Outbreak detection, Investigation, response and control
  • Scientific writing; concepts, proposals, manuscripts, abstracts, policy briefs, bulletin articles and Newspaper articles
  • Editorial skills for scientific articles including weekly, monthly, quarterly e bulletins, and epidemiological bulletins
  • Data analysis using Epi info, STATA, SPSS, R, and QGIS and interpretation of results
  • Development of surveillance systems
  • Leadership and management skills acquired from the various projects led and assignments
  • Designing and implementation of Quality Improvement Projects
  • Conducting Data Quality assessment
  • Evaluating a surveillance system
  • Communication skills including presentation, written and negotiation skills
  • Networking skills

Next Steps

I hope to use all the knowledge and skills acquired to impact my community through expert service where need arises or an opportunity presents. I also hope to mentor those after me in this program if given a chance.

 


Pictorial

Geofrey carrying out an interview during the household outbreak of COVID-19 kasese December 2020Geofrey

 

2020Geofrey during Observation of IPC etiquette Butabika HospitalHBC

 

 

Donned during the setting up of quarantine cen-ters, during the first community COVID outbreak in Masindi

 

HBC outbreak in Rwenzori region