NISA establishes fund for young Nigerian researchers

The Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance (NISA) has set up a research fund for young Nigerians who wish to conduct implementation science research projects. The chair, NISA Trustee Board , Prof Echezona Ezeanolue, disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja during the organisation’s 5th annual implementation science conference in Abuja. He said the fund would be used to […]

The Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance (NISA) has set up a research fund for young Nigerians who wish to conduct implementation science research projects.

The chair, NISA Trustee Board , Prof Echezona Ezeanolue, disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja during the organisation’s 5th annual implementation science conference in Abuja.

He said the fund would be used to support one researcher annually for the next 10 years and would be expanded to more persons as its accesses more grants.

He said the research fund was set up because there was little or support for research in Nigeria.

While saying that NISA would also provide mentors for the researchers, he said government  needs to do more in funding research in the country.

Ezeanolue,  who is also a professor of  Pediatrics and Epidemiology at the School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, United States of America, said the 5th annual implementation science conference was aimed at fostering implementation research collaboration among implementing partners, researchers and policy makers.

He also said it was aimed at advancing training and shared knowledge on implementation science among health professionals, as well as disseminating best evidence based practices for adoption and policy development.

Dr Patrick Dakum, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria (IHVN) and Co-chair NISA 2019 Conference, said that NISA was expanding implementation science research to the region through the establishment of  the Central Africa and West Africa Implementation Science Alliance ( CARISA).

He said the experts were also examining ways to ensure that non-communicable diseases implementation were carried out with sound scientific methods.

“It is one thing to make a discovery for say treatment of hypertension, it is another to ensure that anyone who is hypertensive gets that new treatment,” he said.

He said the 2019 conference was also geared towards examining the impact of implementation using research.

Dakum said IHVN was working assiduously towards bridging the gap between those that were HIV positive and those that were on treatment especially in Rivers State. “We have  a special project there and we are utilizing it to find those that are positive and putting them on treatment,” he said.

Muyi  Aina, Principal Solina Group said his organization has been part of the founding members of NISA and also an implementer of HIV programmes especially in private health facilities through sub grants.

He said the group would be co-hosting the next edition of NISA in 2020, adding that the private sector started behind the public sector in terms of health programming but with interventions has been quick adopters of HIV programmes and strategies for Nigerians.