The Team

The Collaborative Centre of Excellence in Antimicrobial Stewardship Research (CCoEARS) is constituted of experts from diverse academic disciplines and research institutions. The strength of CCoEASR lies in its strategic and dynamic multidisciplinary approach that integrates the research, teaching, development and implementation nexuses.

Learn more about of our Team members...

Dr. John Njuma Libwea

A seasoned researcher on vaccine-preventable disease epidemiology. He is the Founder of CCoEARS and Principal investigator to the Cameroon Carriage and Otitis Media Study (CCOMES) and the Cameroon Invasive Pneumococcal disease (CamIP) study. He holds a PhD in Epidemiology and Public Health and has developed competencies in University Pedagogy and Curriculum Educational development, Implementation Research, One Health, and vaccinology among others.

Prof. Jane-Francis Tatah Kihla Akoachere

She is the Programme Coordinator of the International Master's degree Programme in Antimicrobial Stewardship (IMPAS). Professor Jane-Francis Tatah Kihla Akoachere is a highly accomplished microbiologist and public health expert with a wealth of experience in academia, research, and leadership roles. She holds a PhD in Environmental and Public Health Microbiology and has dedicated her career to addressing critical health challenges in Cameroon and other developing countries.

With a focus on Environmental and Public Health Microbiology, Professor Akoachere's research centres on bacterial and viral pathogens, approaching the issue from a One Health perspective that considers both clinical and environmental sources. She has been a leading voice in tackling the global concern of antimicrobial resistance, contributing to curriculum design for training courses and academic programs on this topic.

She is Professor of Microbiology with over two decades of teaching and mentoring experience, spanning from BSc to PhD levels. Her current role as Vice-Dean in charge of Programmes and Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Science, University of Buea, underscores her commitment to nurturing the next generation of scientists, particularly women, in her field.

She has published extensively on topics related to infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and environmental health. Additionally, she actively engages in professional advisory and consultancy work, contributing her expertise to various academic institutions and organizations.

Professor Akoachere's dedication to advancing science and public health in Cameroon is further exemplified by her membership in professional societies and her involvement in the governance of academic and health institutions. She is the Vice-President of the Cameroon Society for Microbiology.

Dr. Taku Nadesh Ashukem

An experienced microbiologist and lecturer at the University of Buea, Cameroon. She is the Co-PI of the CCOMES and CamIP projects and an awardee of the 2024 Robert Austrian Research (RARA) awards on the epidemiology of pneumococcal diseases. Her project for the RARA awards focused on assessing the impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on antibiotic resistant invasive pneumococcal disease among Cameroonian children. She serves as one of our Research Fellows.

Dr. Vincent Tanya

He is a veterinary epidemiologist and adjunct Director of Research at the Institute of Research and Agronomical development (IRAD), Yaoundé, Cameroon. He serves as one of our Scientific Adviser.

Dr. Mbah David

He is an accomplished scholar and holds a PhD in animal genetics. He is now an Evidence-based Science advice and science diplomacy, aside from being an agro-consultant who had served in various capacities in Cameroon and Africa. He is a former Director of the Regional Research Centre (Waka), Institute of Agricultural Research for Development. He also served as Director of Valorisation and Development Support in the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation before becoming Technical Advisor at the same ministry. He is the immediate former Executive Secretary of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences. He now serves as one of our Scientific and Technical Advisers.

Mrs. Miatta Andong

She is a career nurse and holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and communications. She had worked with a Financial institution for over a decade as their marketing and communications officer before switching to health care. She serves as our Communications Officer.

Mrs Sandrine Bebey Rachel Kingue

Mrs. Kingue Bebey Rachel Sandrine is Microbiologist and Administrative Executive at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovative, Cameroon. She holds a MSc in Medical Microbiology and has been working on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae meningitis among children below 5 years of age at the Mother and Child Centre of Chantal BIYA's Foundation. Her project aimed at establishing the epidemiological aspects and drug resistance patterns (Antimicrobial Stewardship) of meningitis after Vaccine Implementation in Yaoundé. She has a varied background and in-depth experience in logistics and management. She has served as a data manager in a governmental project known as SURVAC, involving many laboratories of the Central Africa region namely Mother and Child Centre of Chantal BIYA Foundation where she previously worked. She has been trained by Centre Pasteur of Cameroon (CPC) and Centres for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta-USA). She serves as one of our Research Associates.

Dr. Limkile Mpofu

Dr Limkile Mpofu is a Public Health researcher and Epidemiologist with expertise in health promotion and antimicrobial stewardship, health systems and Economics, and non-communicable and communicable diseases. She has a varied background and in-depth experience in programme design and management, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, implementation science, Health promotion, global health, qualitative modelling, monitoring and evaluation, and sexual and reproductive health. She has served as a consultant for both non-governmental organisations and private and public organisations for various programme reviews and evaluations. She has done local and international consulting work for multiple companies providing senior support to executives on project-related issues as well as support to Research and Development (RD). Limkile holds a BSc in Monitoring and Evaluation & MPhil. She has a PhD in Public Health from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and a second PhD in Health Psychology (Applied Human Sciences) from the University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa). She is our Senior Research Associate.

Dr. Okwudili Christopher Ejemeni

He is a dedicated and experienced pharmacist with over 12 years of professional practice in Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Pharmacy degree, awarded in 2012 by the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Since 2015, he has worked in community pharmacy settings, where he encounters and assists individuals with diverse medical complaints daily. His approach includes advising on minor ailments, providing treatments, and referring patients for specialized medical attention when necessary. Known for his passion for improving health outcomes. Okwudili is skilled in addressing complex medication-related concerns and fostering strong patient relationships. He serves as our director of operations.

Information, Technology and Development Unit

Team Lead:

Mr. Ngwang Passi N.

He is a Senior IT Specialist and is responsible for matters relating to information, technology and software development at CCoEASR.

Support Staff:

  • Ms. Eyole Martha-Muyen
  • Mr. Bate Elliot
  • Ms. Marvel Esther-Tifuh

Our Collaborators

  • Professor Bright I. Nwaru: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, University of Gothenburg, Sweden

  • Professor Madison Ngafeeson: Professor and Director of the Business Data Analytics at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA.

  • Prof. Shabir Madhi: South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytical Research Unit; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand; Johannesburg, South Africa

  • Dr. Linda Esso: Director at the Directorate for Disease Control, Epidemics and Pandemics, Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

  • Dr. Armelle Viviane Ngomba: National Officer responsible for the fight against epidemics and pandemics, Ministry of Public Health Yaoundé, Cameroon.

  • Mrs. Elisabeth Dibongue: Cameroon's National One Health platform and Zoonosis Programme

  • Dr. Augustine B. Njamnshi: Executive Director of the African Coalition for Sustainable Energy & Access