Kussito Kuntucha
Stafford
Summary
To advance public health practice with innovative skills: protect, detect, investigate and control public health threats with rapid and effective interventions informed by quality research.
Results-focused epidemiologist specialized in tropical disease control (TB, HIV, Leishmaniasis, others) and Vaccine preventable diseases including polio and measles. I have successfully contributed to building robust HIV surveillance systems and designing and implementation of national strategic plans, in Ethiopia. I am an accomplished public health expert who practiced at both national and international level. I have extensive experience particularly in HIV, STI, TB, polio Eradication; disease surveillance (AFP and integrated) disease surveillance. Successful in building strong relationships with Partners including Ministry of health, international development partners including CDC, USAID, WHO and US based universities while working in Ethiopia. I have effectively undertaken the task of being a national technical advisor to the Ministry of heath with ICAP- Columbia and FMOH of Ethiopia for Global Fund for Covid19, TB, HIV and malaria program. I am energetic and hardworking to advance to the new frontiers of service to humanity wherever the skill is demanded.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
National Technical Advisor for the COVID19 response in Ethiopia
ICAP Columbia University
01.2023 - 12.2023
- Coordination and oversight of Global fund C19RM planning, proposal developments, coordination of implementing departments and regions of Ethiopia
- Preparation and submission of national financial and activity plans for covid 19, TB, HIV and malaria departments on mitigation of covid 19 impact and restoration of services pre- COVID19 levels
- Review of national proposals and refinement of final national proposals
- Facilitation of capacity building trainings and intersectoral program reviews with federal government, regions and partner agencies
- Coordination and facilitation of international health regulation national action plans for Ethiopia
- Provision of technical support to regions, federal agencies.
Medical officer
WHO
06.2018 - 08.2020
- Effectively overseen & coordinated polio eradication activities (12 rounds of SIAs, Routine EPI, and AFP surveillance in 15 districts of Pakistan
- Monitored the planning, implementation and supervision of Polio eradication campaigns
- Supported M&E of EPI, SIA, and AFP surveillance
- Conduct regular site visits to health facilities, communities and coordination offices for technical assistance
- Facilitated regular review meetings (program and management); resolved identified issues
- Conducted M&E of EPI, immunization campaigns and VPD surveillance
- Conducted regular site visits to facilities, communities and coordination offices
- Provided technical assistance in the conduct of several polio case in-depth epidemic investigations in Sindh with rapid response team
- Participated in facilitation of capacity building trainings for national and sub-national level Staff
CONSULTANT
WHO (Pakistan)
03.2018 - 06.2018
- Build the capacity of national staff on polio eradication activities
- Supported the Polio Eradication activities in provincial emergency operation center (PEOC), anti-polio campaign preparation, monitoring, and guidance of field staff
- Reviewed AFP and VPD surveillance including AFP surveillance ensured inclusion of all government health facilities in Surveillance
- Regularly analyzed performance data and shared with emergency operation center for corrective actions
- Supported the strengthening of AFP surveillance activities in Zhob, division (Baluchistan) for AFP cases effectively
- Conducted regular online meetings with national international and polio staff for updating, advancing program objectives.
Technical OFFICER (SURVEILLANCE)
CDC (US embassy)
12.2007 - 01.2018
- Oversee the design implementation of complex bio-behavioral epidemiologic surveys in Ethiopia in HIV, TBHIV, ANC/PMTCT Surveillance, HIV case surveillance, and population bases surveys
- Capacity building for National HIV surveillance and survey program management staff and interagency coordination
- Provide TA to the development of new yearly HIV related estimates using spectrum EPP to assist in the interpretation of these estimates
- Lead the development of an integrated HIV/AIDS/STI/TB surveillance system 5 years strategic plan in Ethiopia
- Strengthen HIV sentinel surveillance among antenatal clinics
- Conduct Objective Review of US government funded projects for other countries as Objective Review Panelist
- Provide technical assistance to government and non-government CDC partners in the implementation of HIV /AIDS program by oversight, coordination and sites visits
- Accomplishment: Successfully served as a principal investigator for several surveillance activities including National key population HIV bio-behavioral survey, Ethiopian HIV Impact assessment Survey and ANC based HIV surveillance and National MARPS surveillance, and HIV case based surveillance
- Supported the capacity of national HIV Surveillance Staff by facilitating five rounds of trainings before implementation
- Provided technical assistance to national surveillance programs including Leading the national HIV surveillance and survey technical working group, National PEPFAR Scientific task force, new yearly HIV related estimates; the development of an integrated HIV/AIDS/STI/TB surveillance system 5 years strategic plan in Ethiopia
- Supported capacity of the national AIDS Control Program (NACP) to conduct HIV/AIDS/STI/TB surveillance by organizing trainings & facilitating trainings
- Strengthened HIV sentinel surveillance among antenatal clinics, including strengthening HIV, AIDS, STI and TV surveillance for 2016/17, 2014, 2012, 2009 and 2007 rounds from protocol to final report
- Conducted several Objective Review of US government funded projects for as Review Panelist- for Africa & Asia applications
- Conducted regular site visits for monitoring of care and treatment programs.
National Consultant (WHO) Seconded to TB Leprosy (FMOH)
World Health Organization
07.2007 - 12.2007
- Prepared program manuals, Strategic plan development and technical directions
- Effectively supported the development of costed national strategic plan for TB and Leprosy control in Ethiopia
- Revised TB/leprosy control manual and initiation of the new treatment regimen from long course to short course therapy
- Coordinated the cascading of the national training for TB/Leprosy to all regions
- Developed the application for the Greenlight Committee to initiate treatment of multi drug resistant TB for the first time in Ethiopia.
International Consultant
WHO Pakistan
11.2005 - 04.2006
- Provided technical assistance to Polio SIAs, Immunization campaign, AFP surveillance and routine immunization activities in districts of assignment
- Coordinated the planning, social mobilization and implementation of 7 rounds of Polio SIAs, hired the required staff and oversaw the routine EPI and AFP surveillance activities in districts of assignment
- Support AFP and integrated disease surveillance of VPDs in areas of assignment by site visits, AFP case investigations
- Conduct regular data analysis and identify areas of improvement for improved reach of target children
- Participate in inter-provincial and inter-district technical support to other provinces as directed by team leader
- Support the Management of campaign resources (Staff, Finance, Personnel and vehicles)
- Achievement: Provided technical assistance to Polio SIAs, Immunization campaign, AFP surveillance and routine immunization activities in districts of assignment
- Coordinate the planning and implementation of Polio SIAs, routine EPI and AFP surveillance activities
- Supported the social mobilization activities before and during polio SIA campaigns
- Supported AFP and integrated disease surveillance of VPDs in areas of assignment
- Conducted regular data analysis and identified areas of improvement including missed children, for improved reach of target children
- Support the Management of campaign resources including supervision of local staff, Personnel, finance and vehicles.
STOP consultant
WHO (geneva)
09.2004 - 12.2004
- Support Polio Eradication initiative activities in Pakistan and Ghana
- Provide technical assistance to polio Eradication activities (campaign monitoring, Routine EPI monitoring and AFP surveillance)
- Build capacity of national staff on polio campaign planning, social mobilization, monitoring, data analysis
- Improve the quality of the campaign with enhanced social mobilization, campaign monitoring, sensitization and support for routine immunization and AFP surveillance
- Achievements: Successfully supported the organization of several rounds of polio SIAs, and supervised NIDS, AFP surveillance, and routine EPI with WHO, CDC and UNICEF staff in both countries, Pakistan and Ghana.
Medical director and clinician
07.1998 - 08.2003
- Oversee the planning of annual and semi-annual plans and monitor implementation
- Coordinate and manage staff of health center and health posts under Karat health center (health stations and health posts)
- Capacity building for clinical staff of the health center
- Oversee and participate in clinical care of both bed and outpatients
- Coordinate health center clinical and non-clinical tasks with other line departments and NGOs
- Lead the HIV/AIDs control and other disease control activities with relevant regional bodies
- Achievements: Successfully planned, and oversaw the implementation of annual, semi-annual plans of the health center
- Supervised and managed the staff of other health institutions under Karat health center (health stations and health posts)
- Conducted and facilitated several in training clinical staff (Safe motherhood, Vaccine preventable diseases, AFP surveillance, TB and malaria control)
- Managed & Monitored clinical care of patients (both bed and ambulatory patient)
- Lead and coordinated Government and Non-governmental organizations for health related issues (Kalazar, MSF, Nutritional Rehabilitation, HIV prevention, Sanitation, malaria control in Konso district)
- Effectively chaired Konso wereda HIV/AIDS prevention task board for planning and coordination of community based tasks with local NGO, (Konso Development association, Southern Ethiopia peoples development association (SEPDA), and other NGOs).
Education
Master of Science - Tropical Diseases
Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine
Antwerp, 2000 Belgium08.2004
M.D. - General Medicine
Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa Ethiopia07.1998
Skills
- Microsoft office (MS excel, powerpoint, word)-(advanced)
- Statistical packages (EPI Info, EPP spectrum, Stata, SPSS)
- Communicable Disease Control
- Public Health surveillance
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Epidemic Investigation
- Epidemiologic data analysis
- Scientific report writing
- Emergency Preparedness and response action
- Project management
- Polio Eradication and immunization
- Health system strengthening and mitigation of impacts of Covid19 on TB, HIV and malaria programs
Affiliations
- Ethiopian Public Health Association (lifelong member)
- Ethiopian Red Cross Society (Life member)
- Member of John snow society
Awards
- Eagle/Franklin Award (Dec 14, 2017): US Embassy Addis Ababa, for Excellent team work in Planning and implementation
- Franklin Award (Dec 2011): US Embassy Addis Ababa, exemplary contribution to CDC Division of Global HIV AIDS
- Mission Honor Award (Dec 2014): US Embassy Addis Ababa, for Exemplary and Innovative work in the design, development, deployment, data collection, analysis and report writing
- Certificate of Appreciation (June, 2017): US Embassy Addis Ababa; Devoted efforts to ending the HIV Epidemic in Ethiopia with the highest level of professionalism.
Publications
- HIV drug resistance early warning indicators in Ethiopia, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.02.031
- Exclusive Breast-Feeding Practice And Its Associated Factors Among Mothers Of < 12 Months Old Infants In Konso Zone, Southern Ethiopia, Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), 2023, https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2404588.pdf
References
- Prof Sileshi Lulseged, Chief Scientist, I-CAP-Columbia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 0911228496, sl2883@cumc.columbia.edu
- Samuel Teshome, MD, DTM, International Vaccine initiative, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, +251911-4065-25, sam_teshome2002@yahoo.com
Timeline
National Technical Advisor for the COVID19 response in Ethiopia
ICAP Columbia University
01.2023 - 12.2023
Medical officer
WHO
06.2018 - 08.2020
CONSULTANT
WHO (Pakistan)
03.2018 - 06.2018
Technical OFFICER (SURVEILLANCE)
CDC (US embassy)
12.2007 - 01.2018
National Consultant (WHO) Seconded to TB Leprosy (FMOH)
World Health Organization
07.2007 - 12.2007
International Consultant
WHO Pakistan
11.2005 - 04.2006
STOP consultant
WHO (geneva)
09.2004 - 12.2004
Medical director and clinician
07.1998 - 08.2003
Master of Science - Tropical Diseases
Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine
M.D. - General Medicine
Addis Ababa University
Similar Profiles
Tesha Vita KamwendoTesha Vita Kamwendo
Operations Manager at ICAP @ Columbia UniversityOperations Manager at ICAP @ Columbia University
Amanuel SeidAmanuel Seid
INFORMATION SECURITY SPECIALIST at ICAP AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITYINFORMATION SECURITY SPECIALIST at ICAP AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Diana MpamoDiana Mpamo
Data Entry Clerk at ICAP at Columbia UniversityData Entry Clerk at ICAP at Columbia University