CONTRIBUTORS
Irene Okanda
CDAE Fellow
Shaping Public Health Through Epidemiology
By Irine Okanda, CDAE fellow and Topistar Karani, Communications Officer
With 14 years of experience in health research, Irine is committed to using evidence-based findings to influence policy decisions and improve public health outcomes. With a deep passion for understanding disease patterns and their impact on communities, she embarked on a mission to bridge knowledge gaps and advocate for evidence-based interventions.
Her pursuit of a master’s degree in epidemiology and biostatistics was a natural extension of this passion. She found the perfect opportunity to advance her expertise through APHRC’s Capacity Development of Applied Epidemiologists (CDAE) program. The program provided specialized training in epidemiological methods, disease surveillance, and research methodologies, equipping her with the analytical skills needed to study the distribution and determinants of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Beyond academic coursework, the CDAE program offered professional development opportunities, including workshops and conferences that broadened her perspective and expanded her professional network. The knowledge and skills she gained became instrumental in strengthening her expertise in disease research, policy advocacy, and data analysis—further solidifying her role as a key contributor to evidence-based public health solutions.
Irine’s research focused on malaria vaccine uptake in Muhoroni subcounty, uncovering a significant gap in immunization rates, particularly for the third and fourth doses of the RTS,S vaccine. Her findings highlighted key barriers to uptake, including fear of side effects, inconsistent vaccine availability, and long waiting times, all of which contributed to the region falling short of the World Health Organization’s 90% coverage target. These insights proved crucial in informing the Ministry of Health and local stakeholders’ efforts to enhance vaccine distribution and community awareness.
To position her research for greater influence in shaping malaria vaccination strategies, Irine presented her research at the 3rd International Conference of Public Health in Africa and the 9th East Africa Health and Scientific Conference in Rwanda. She also published her first paper in the African Journal of Health Sciences, with a second manuscript under review at BMC Public Health Journal.
As a result of her fellowship with CDAE, Irine has honed essential skills in proposal writing, data collection, statistical analysis, and research dissemination. Her proficiency in Stata, R, NVivo, and Excel has positioned her to effectively analyze complex health data, a capability she plans to leverage in future research on disease surveillance, prevention, and advocacy. Her journey exemplifies the impact of structured epidemiology training in advancing research, shaping health policies, and improving population health outcomes.
Reflecting on her experience in the CDAE program, Irine commends its seamless transition from coursework to research, the timely provision of research and publication funds, and the well-organized conferences and workshops. She credits the program with providing the necessary support and resources for her academic and professional growth. However, she believes expanding the program to include PhD fellowships would further strengthen the pipeline of epidemiologists equipped to address emerging public health challenges.
Irine’s career aspirations are ambitious yet deeply rooted in her passion for public health. In the short term, she is focused on completing her PhD in public health while securing research grants to enhance her expertise in data analysis and policy influence. Long term, she envisions becoming a senior scientist involved in high-impact research, policy formulation, and capacity building for young scientists. From navigating complex health challenges to influencing critical policy decisions, Irine’s journey in epidemiology is a testament to the power of research in transforming lives.