The World Federation of KSIMC

National Best Health Research Scientist Award 2016

Presented to: Professor Karim P. Manji               

Awarding authority: National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR)

By: Hon Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan

This award is given by the highest research body (NIMR) in Tanzania under the auspices of Ministry of Health Community Welfare, Gender, Elderly and Children and was awarded on 4^th October, 2016 at the Julius Nyerere International Conference Centre.

Some of his achievements

Neonatal Medicine

1. By training in Neonatal l Medicine in 1994 at the then Royal Postgraduate Medical School, under the mentorship of Prof. David Edwards and Prof. David Harvey and Dr. Dennis Azzopardi.  This training allowed him to supervise several dissertations in Neonatal Medicine (Respiratory Distress, Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Hypothermia, Bleeding disorders, cranial ultrasound in LBW, Congenital Malformations, and Hypoxic Ischaemic Encephalopathy score and so on. Most of these are now in scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals.

2. The neonatal training also allowed him to further the field and he trains local nurses using the perinatal program of essential newborn care on regular basis at the neonatal unit, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dares salaam, Tanzania

3. In 2008, under the sponsorship of Save the Children program, he undertook a survey and Published a book titled “Situation Analysis of Newborn in Tanzania”, and presented in a Forum of key leaders, including the Chief Medical Officer and Principal Secretary of Ministry of Health. This document has now become a reference tool in many Newborn programs in Tanzania

4. He is a Member of the Helping Babies Breath Scientific program geared to reduce Asphyxia related deaths in Tanzania. He trains about 180 semester 5-6 students and about 180 semester 9-10 medical students to undertake Neonatal Resuscitation, annually since 2013

5. In 2012, he undertook a capacity building for neonatal care in the three district hospitals in Da-es-salaam, which helped to reduce congestion at the referral hospital and improve neonatal care at the district hospitals.

He remains to be a known “neonatologist” and is consulted for various issues related to newborn care in Tanzania. 

Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Tanzania.

1. He has participated in 2 major trails related to PMTCT of HIV, which have contributed to scientific knowledge and changes in Policy in PMTCT issues

• The Trial of Vitamins in PMTCT of HIV in 1995, during the Anti-Retroviral Naïve period, contributed to the role of nutrition, particularly multiple micronutrients in the prevention of PMTCT and pregnancy outcome.
• The HPTN 046 trial of Extended Nevirapine to PMTCT of HIV among exclusively Breast Feeding mothers. This was published in the Lancet in 2012 and has been an important research in shaping all the policies as well as research on Nevirapine and PMTCT locally and globally.

2. A surveillance of PMTCT along with a senior colleague, in which key bottle-necks identified in the PMTCT program in Tanzania and therefore improvement of PMTCT services

3. Presented and published the Professorial Inaugural Lecture in December 2011 “Myths and Realities of Breast Feeding and HIV in Africa” at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences.

Autism

1. He has undertaken a survey and situation analysis of Autism in Tanzania, and published comprehensive information on “Gaps in Knowledge and Care of children with Autism in Tanzania”.

2. This Pervasive developmental disorder is not recognized and not given any importance in Tanzania. He is now championing the awareness campaigns in his circle of influence: Academia at the University, Policy makers at the Government levels, Public Awareness and lectures in TV and seminar, and In-service as well as Pre-service training of doctors in the department of Paediatrics.

3. Has undertaken and continues to provide services with the help of colleagues at Brown University, USA (Dr. Ashley –Johnson Harrison) to parents with children with Autism in Tanzania.

Neurodevelopmental Assessments.

1. He is a tutor for the Griffiths Development assessment (UK) and is a member of Action Research in Child development (UK) for the same.

2. Is currently undertaking a multi-site assessment of Neurodevelopment in children who have received B12 supplements in infancy. The Vitabeginning Study, sponsored by the Centre for International Health, Norway.

3. Has established a neurodevelopment resource centre in the University, whereby he can train and provide technical assistance in the following tools: The Griffith, The Bailey, The East African Neuro- development tool and the Malawi Development Assessment tools.

Nutrition in Child Health

1. He has undertaken 2 large clinical trials of multivitamins in children. One among offspring’s born to HIV positive women (2400 children), and second consisting on multivitamins and zinc among offspring’s born to HIV negative women (2400). Several papers have been published on these trials.

2. Supervises several MSc and PhD students in completing their analysis and publications from the data in these 2 NIH funded trails.

Teaching, Research and Publication

1. Has over 125 publications in peer reviewed journals. Various topics have been covered, ranging from case reports of unusual clinical conditions, breast feeding, micronutrients, development assessments, and Autism. (Citations: 2487, h-index :25, i10 index:  52.  The score is higher than 95% of Research Gate members).

2. Has supervised over 30 dissertations undertaken by Masters of Medicine (Paediatrics) students in various issues related to Child Health.  In the course of being an academic staff member, has trained over 60 Paediatricians in the University, since 1992. Teaching undergraduate students since 1992 in Paediatrics and Child Health.

3. Is supervising 4 PhD students: i. Endophenotypes of Autism in Tanzania (Open University, UK), ii. Implementation of PMTCT options in Tanzania (Karolinska University, Sweden), iii. Soil helminthes and Tuberculosis (Swiss tropical Institute- Switzerland),  iv. Ethical Issues in Neonatal Screening (Muhimbili University )

4. Mentor for Students under the Fogarty Global Infectious Disease Program, through the Harvard-TH Chan School of public health, both at Muhimbili University in Tanzania and as adjunct member of the Global Health department of the Harvard TH Chan school of Public Health, USA.

5. Member of the DSMB for Malaria Vaccine trials, and for TB/HIV trials in Tanzania.

6. Member of Scientific committee of the Clinical Trials, TFDA and the Ifakara Health Institute.