Gram Mutandi
Alpharetta
Summary
Dynamic public health professional with extensive experience at the CDC, excelling in HIV care management and program evaluation. Proven track record in developing clinical guidelines and providing technical assistance, fostering stakeholder collaboration, and enhancing service delivery. Recognized for strategic thinking and effective communication, driving impactful health initiatives in diverse settings.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Service Fellow:Adult HIV Care and Treatment
US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
ATLANTA
09.2023 - Current
Key activities under this position include:
§ Provides technical assistance as subject matter expert to DGHT and USG-Country programs to improve access and quality of HIV care and treatment services for adults living with HIV, both as a point of contact to 1-3 countries and as a member of 1-3 HCTB technical units of choice
§ In this role, the Medical Officer is engaged in a multitude of critical activities, such as offering expert technical assistance to both the Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis (DGHT) and United States Government (USG) programs in various countries. This assistance aims to enhance the accessibility and quality of HIV care for adults, enriching the capacity of the programs through persistent consultations and support.
§ Through regular consultations and ongoing support, the Medical Officer plays a crucial role in enhancing the effectiveness of HIV care and treatment services. This position involves the critical task of reviewing program outcomes and adapting strategies as needed to align with the latest scientific and medical advancements.
§ Regularly review and innovate analyses of collected data to demonstrate and improve HIV treatment programs and best practices.
§ Collaborates with subject matter experts from other technical areas, including maternal and child health, global tuberculosis, international laboratory systems and others to develop technical updates and guidance to support branch priorities.
§ Represents CDC and PEPFAR in meetings with external partners to help develop global strategies, recommendations, and normative guidelines.
§ Develops strategic workplans based on programmatic priorities for the branch, division and PEPFAR, and individual career goals.
§ Acting Team Lead: Morbidity and Mortality Team: September 16-24 ,2024
§ Acting Team Lead, Advanced Clinical Care and Tuberculosis: South Africa, October 15 - December 27, 2024
In summary the assignment was to serve as the Senior Treatment Advisorsupporting:
a) Development of strategic and implementation plan(s) for HIV care and treatment initiatives and HIV/TB, including revised guidelines.
b) Evaluation of implementation of new initiatives to inform scale up nationally; and
c) Collaboration with stakeholders engaged in HIV/AIDS care and treatment and HIV/TB programs to implement evidence-based HIV care and treatment and TB/HIV strategies to achieve national HIV and TB targets for epidemic control.
d) Assigned duties included overall responsibility for supervising a team of 2 Locally Employed (LE) Staff and overseeing Advanced HIV disease and TB activities, as well as other monitoring and evaluation of HIV/TB-related programs as needed.
ACTING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL PROGRAMS
US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
WINDHOEK
04.2020 - 08.2023
o As Acting Associate Director for Programs supervised:
§ Health and Sustainability Team Lead
§ Laboratory Services Team Lead
§ HIV Prevention Team Lead
§ Maternal and Child Health Services Team Lead
o As HIV Care and Treatment Team Lead supervised the HIV Care and Treatment Team of Technical Advisors at the CDC-Namibia office, overseeing the portfolios of
§ HIV Continuity in Care Advisor,
§ HIV/TB Medical Advisor.
o Developed protocols for operations research as well as writing scientific reports, abstracts, and manuscripts.
o Provided TA to several CDC Implementing Partners in the program areas covering HIV Care and Treatment,
o Conducted mandatory CDC technical reviews generating reports that advise CDC Namibia Management team and the CDC Atlanta Procurement and Grants Office
o As a member of the US Government PEPFAR Interagency Technical Teams in Namibia; served on the Care and Treatment Interagency Technical team. Helped develop the annual PEPFAR Namibia Country Operational Plans, PEPFAR Oversight and Accountability Team (POART) reviews, Semi-Annual as well as Annual Progress Reports.
o Served as a member on several Namibia National Technical Working Groups which included the HIV Treatment Advisory Committee, National Quality Management Technical Working Group.
o Served on the Namibia National COVID-19 Response specifically under the Namibia COVID-19 National COVID-19 Case Management Response Pillar. In this role was CDC Namibia technical representative on the Pillar and led the development of the Case Management data management and analysis tools to track the COVID19 cases and outcomes across the whole country.
TEAM LEAD:HIV PREVENTION ,CARE AND TREATMENT
US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
WINDHOEK
08.2016 - 04.2020
§ Assigned to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Namibia office. Reporting directly to the CDC Namibia Country Director; key activities under this responsibility included:
§ Supervised the HIV Care and Treatment Team of Technical Advisors at the CDC-Namibia office, overseeing the portfolios of
o HIV Counselling and Testing,
o TB Lab Advisor.
o Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Advisor,
o PMTCT Medical Advisor.
o HIV/TB Medical Advisor.
§ Conceptualized and led the development of the “Field-based Retention Intervention through Enhanced Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) Services (FRIENDS) project, the first sub-award by the MOHSS to an indigenous organization to provide community-based HIV retention services.
§ Provided TA to several CDC Implementing Partners in the program areas covering HIV Care and Treatment, VMMC as well as the National Quality Management Program.
§ Conducted mandatory CDC technical reviews generating reports that recommend CDC Namibia Management team and the CDC Atlanta Procurement and Grants Office
§ Member of the US Government PEPFAR Interagency Technical Teams in Namibia; served as Co-Chair on the Care and Treatment Interagency Technical team. Helped develop the annual PEPFAR Namibia Country Operational Plans, Semi-Annual as well as Annual Progress Reports.
§ Technical member to the PEPFAR headquarters based Technical Working Groups; specifically, the Adult Treatment Technical Working Group (ATTWG) and the VMMC TWG. Served as a member on several Namibia National Technical Working Groups which include the HIV Treatment Advisory Committee, HIV Prevention Technical Advisory Committee, National Quality Management Technical Working Group and the VMMC National Technical Working Group.
§ Co-chair of the USG PEPFAR Namibia multi-stakeholder steering committee that negotiated and led to the successful USD multi-million realignment of major PEPFAR programs in Namibia between the major USG Implementing Agencies (CDC and USAID) and affected 5 major implementing partners.
HIV CARE AND TREATMENT ADVISOR
QED GROUP LLC (USA)
WINDHOEK
03.2012 - 08.2016
§ Personal Services Contractor assigned to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Namibia office. Reporting directly to the CDC Namibia Country Director; key activities under this responsibility included:
§ Led the Prevention, Care and Treatment Team of Technical Advisors at the CDC-Namibia office, overseeing the portfolios of HIV Counselling and Testing, Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision, HIV/TB as well as HIV Care and Treatment.
§ Technical lead in the transformation of the National HIV Quality Improvement Program from the HIVQUAL model into the QI Collaborative Approach which is now used as the standard model by the Ministry of Health in Namibia
§ CDC Namibia Technical Lead in collaborating with the MOHSS in setting up the flagship Namibia HIV Clinical Mentorship Program
§ Provided technical support to the introduction and roll out of the Project ECHO in Namibia, the first ever ECHO project in Africa in collaboration with the HIV Care and Treatment Branch at CDC Atlanta and multiple Implementing partners,
§ Managed the CDC-Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) Cooperative Agreement for HIV Care and Treatment, VMMC, and the National Quality Management Program. This role involved helping MoHSS in creating annual work plans, budgets, and progress reports.
§ Member of the US Government PEPFAR Interagency Technical Teams in Namibia; served on the Prevention team and co-chairs the Care and Treatment team. Helps develop the annual PEPFAR Namibia Country Operational Plans, Semi-Annual as well as Annual Progress Reports.
§ Field-based technical member to the PEPFAR headquarters based Technical Working Groups; specifically, the Adult Treatment Technical Working Group (ATTWG) and the VMMC TWG. Was the lead technical staff for the CDC Namibia restart of the VMMC program implementation in Namibia.
§ Member on several Namibia National Technical Working Groups which include the HIV Treatment Advisory Committee, HIV Prevention Technical Advisory Committee, National Quality Management Technical Working Group and the VMMC National Technical Working Group. In June 2014 awarded a certificate appreciation by the United States Department of State in Namibia “For exceptional collaboration, dedication, and perseverance in advancing the national VMMC program in Namibia” (Annexure 1).
§ Prevention Team Lead- conceptualized the development of the brand “Smart Cut” which popularized and enhanced demand creation for VMMC services in Namibia
§ Member of the National Technical Advisory Committee on HIV care and treatment provided technical assistanceto the development of the Namibia National HIV Care and Treatment Guidelines 4th Edition published in 2014.
§ Provided technical support to the protocol development, data management, data analysis and report writing of the first ever Namibia National ART Outcomes Evaluation 2004-2012, Incollaboration with the Epidemiology, Informatics, Strategic Information and Biostatics Teams at CDC Namibia and Atlanta.
TECHNICAL ADVISOR CLINICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE
CTS GLOBAL (USA)
WINDHOEK
08.2010 - 03.2012
§ HIV/AIDS Clinical Quality Assurance Technical Advisor assigned to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) –Windhoek, Namibia Office.
§ Provided Technical Assistance to the CDC Namibia office, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), and the USG PEPFAR Namibia Country Team broadly in the HIV Care and Treatment portfolio.
§ National technical lead for the strengthening of the HIV Quality Management Program (HIVQUAL) within the Namibia Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS); supported National HIV care and treatment program technical planning including developing PEPFAR Country Operational Plans, Annual and Semi-Annual Progress Reports.
§ Member of the National Technical Advisory Committee on HIV care and Treatment; provided technical assistance for the development of the Namibia National HIV Care and Treatment Guidelines 3rd Edition published in 2010.
§ Co-lead in the designing, implementation, data collection, analysis and report writing of the PIMA CD4 Point of Care testing pilot in the public sector in Namibia which was then rolled out in the country in 2011 working with the CDC laboratory tea.
§ Member of the MOHSS/PEPFAR Human Resources for Health (HRH) technical working group that successfully planned and negotiated the transition of PEPFAR funded health care workers to the Namibian government. Consequently, in July 2013 was group awarded the CDC CGH Director’s Partnership Award “recognizing those who are not employed by the CDC whose services or support of the global health goals of CDC and those employees that perform outstanding work building and maintaining highly effective partnerships”. In 2010/11 during the beginning of the transition of the PEPFAR Program in Namibia.
§ Provided technical support to the development of the successful Namibia HIV Rolling Continuation Channel Grant proposal to the Global Fund
§ In 2012, as the CDC Namibia Lead Technical Advisor, I developed protocols, implemented projects, and wrote reports for the National Assessment of Quality Management Systems in Namibian hospitals and health centers.
HIV CLINICAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT MEDICAL OFFICER
Ministry of Health and Social Services
WINDHOEK
02.2007 - 08.2010
§ Primary national lead coordinating key stakeholders including the MOHSS, CDC and the New York State Department of Health HIVQUAL International in the national program design, pilot in 16 health districts and the full roll out to all 34 health districts in Namibia of the national program for HIV Quality monitoring (HIVQUAL).
§ Developed the national training curriculum, Quality Improvement (QI) program tools and quality performance measures.
§ Trained and mentored health care workers in QI leading to the successful implementation of the Namibia National HIV Quality Monitoring Program which has now become institutionalized into the national systems. To date this program has reported quality of care performance data on 41,323 patient visits over ten semi-annual reporting periods at 37 health facilities in Namibia from 2008 to 2013.
§ Supported other HIV program initiatives including HIV counselling and testing services. Provided technical support to the design and successful implementation of Namibia’s first ever National HIV Testing Day in May 2008.In recognition of the contribution in this successful initiative-was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the US Government Ambassador to Namibia on behalf of CDC Namibia. Awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Minister of Health and Social Services in Namibia separately in recognition of the same contribution.
§ Provided technical support to the development of the Namibia National Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS response 2010-2015
§ Helped the local organizing technical team that led the successful hosting of the 2009 PEPFAR HIV Implementers meeting in Namibia and was group recognized by CDC Namibia for “outstanding contributions to the success of the HIV Implementers Conference”.
SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER: HEAD-OSHAKATI ARV CLINIC
Ministry of Health and Social Services
OSHAKATI
07.2004 - 01.2007
§ Lead Physician: Oshakati State Hospital ARV clinic, then the largest HIV clinic which covered patients from 5 regions with 10 district hospitals in northern Namibia.
§ Led the facility level efforts to establish functional clinical service delivery and referral systems for the ART clinic at Oshakati Hospital
Mentored and trained medical officers and nurses stationed at the hospital and surrounding 10 district level health facilities. During this period, the clinic patient population rapidly increased from just less than 500 patients to over 5000 patients receiving HIV care and treatment services.
PRIVATE FAMILY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER
SELF EMPLOYED
BULAWAYO
05.2003 - 06.2004
- Provided general practice family care as a private medical practitioner
HOSPITAL MEDICAL OFFICER: UNITED BULAWAYO HOSPITAL
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE
BULAWAYO
03.2001 - 05.2003
§ Casualty Officer in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department
§ Senior Medical Officer supervising junior resident doctors in the hospital department of internal medicine.
SENIOR RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICER: MPILO HOSPITAL
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE
BULAWAYO
01.2000 - 02.2001
- WORKED AS RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF OBSTRETIC AND GYNAECOLOGY
- WORKED AS RESIDENCY PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS
JUNIOR RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICER
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE
BULAWAYO
01.1999 - 12.1999
- WORKED AS RESIDENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
- WORKED IN RESIDENCY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY (with rotations in GENERAL SURGERY, ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY, OTORHYNOLARYNGOLOGY)
Education
Master of Public Health -
University of the Western Cape
South Africa03.2013
Diploma - HIV Management
Colleges of Medicine South Africa
10.2005
MBchB - Medicine and Surgery
University of Zimbabwe
11.1998
Skills
- Effective communicator
- Diplomatic negotiator
- Interpersonal skills
- Public relations skills
- Proficient in MS Word
- Proficient in Excel
- Proficient in PowerPoint
- Advanced proficiency in Stata
- HIV care management
- Clinical guidelines development
- Technical assistance
- Data analysis
- Program evaluation
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Project management
- Quality improvement
- Public health advocacy
- Strategic thinking
- Scientific writing
- Project coordination
- Subject matter expertise
Additional Courses And Certifications
- Global Program Management and Leadership, University of Washington (USA), 06/01/11
- Mastering Project Management, Project Management for Development (Atlanta, USA)
- Epidemiology and Control of HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria, University of the Western Cape Winter School, 2008
- Health Management, University of the Western Cape Winter School, 2008
Scientific Publications
1. Leonard Bikinesi, Matthew A. Spinelli, Ntombizodwa Nyoni, Daniella Mouton, Assegid Mengistu, Jacques Kamangu, Iyaloo Konstantinus, Pearl Kalimugogo, Gram Mutandi, Fekir Negussie, Guohong Wang, Susie Welty, Willi McFarland, R. Suzanne Beard, Jessica Haberer, Suzanne McCluskey, Monica Gandhi, Steven Y. Hong, The impact of adherence counseling incorporating a point of care urine tenofovir assay on virologic suppression among individuals failing tenofovir-lamivudine-dolutegravir: A pre-post intervention study,
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 151,2025,107328,ISSN 1201-9712, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107328
2. Russell A, Verani AR, Pals S, Reagon VM, Alexander LN, Galloway ET, Mange MM, Kalimugogo P, Nyika P, Fadil YM, Aoko A, Asiimwe FM, Ikpeazu A, Kayira D, Letebele M, Maida A, Magesa D, Mutandi G, Mwila AC, Onotu D, Nkwoh KT, Wangari E. Impact of HIV treat-all and complementary policies on ART linkage in 13 PEPFAR-supported African countries. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023 Oct 25;23(1):1151. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09702-2. PMID: 37880619; PMCID: PMC10598983.
3. Gillian O’Bryan, Alison Ensminger, Idel Billah, Edwin Sithole, Magdaleena Nghatanga, Laura Brandt, Mark Shepard2, Mekondjo Aupokolo, Assegid Tassew Mengistu, Norbert Forster, Brigitte Zemburuka, Gram Mutandi,Scott Barnhart, Gabrielle O’Malley, and Caryl Feldacker. Implementing quality management strategies improves clinical quality as a voluntary medical male circumcision program in Namibia matures: a process analysis. BMC Health Services Research 2023 Vol. 23 Issue 1 Pages 1044. https://rdcu.be/dvRmF
4. Megan E. Peck, Katherine Ong, Todd Lucas, Anne G. Thomas, Ronald Wandira, Bene Ntwaaga, Mandzisi Mkhontfo, Tiruneh Zegeye, Fikirte Yohannes, Dejene Mulatu, Teruwork Gultie, Ambrose Wanyonyi Juma, Elijah Odoyo-June, Alice Maida, Wezi Msungama, Marcos Canda, Gram Mutandi, et al. Preventing HIV Among Adolescent Boys and Young Men Through PEPFAR-Supported Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision in 15 Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2018–2021. AIDS Education and Prevention 2023 35:Supplement A, 67-81. https://doi.org/10.1521/aeap.2023.35.suppA.67
5. Chun HM, Dirlikov E, Cox MH, Gram Mutandiet al. Vital Signs: Progress Toward Eliminating HIV as a Global Public Health Threat Through Scale-Up of Antiretroviral Therapy and Health System Strengthening Supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief — Worldwide, 2004–2022. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:317–324. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7212e1
6. Wright J, Tison L, Chun H, Gutierrez C, Ning MF, Morales RE, Lopez B, Simpungwe J, Masamaro K, Usmanova N, Mutandi G,Bunga S, Agolory S. Use of Project ECHO in Response to COVID-19 in Countries Supported by US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 Dec;28(13):S191-S196. https://PMID: 36502384; PMCID: PMC9745236.
7. Apollo Basenero, Julie Neidel, Daniel J. Ikeda, Hilaria Ashivudhi, Simbarashe Mpariwa, Jacques W. N. Kamangu, Mireille A. Mpalang Kakubu, Linea Hans, Gram Mutandi, Suzanne Jed , Francina Tjituka, Ndapewa Hamunime, Bruce D. Agins(2022). Integrating hypertension and HIV care in Namibia: A quality improvement collaborative approach. PLoS One. 2022 Aug 11;17(8):e0272727. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272727. PMID: 35951592; PMCID: PMC9371294.
8. Leila Katirayi, Naemi Shoopala, Kiren Mitruka, Assegid Mengistu, Godfrey Woelk, Andrew L. Baughman, Gram Mutandi, Steven Y. Hong, Ndapewa Hamunime (2022). Taking care to the patients: a qualitative evaluation of a community-based ART care program in northern Namibia. BMC Health Serv Res 22, 498 (2022).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-07928-0
9. Michael R Jordan, Leonard Bikinesi, Laimi Ashipala, Nicholus Mutenda, Mary Brantuo, Gillian Hunt, Andreas Shiningavamwe, Gram Mutandi, Anita Beukes, Suzanne Beard, Katherine Battey, Eric J Dziuban, Elliot Raizes, Paul Adjei, Alice Tang, Amalia Giron, Steven Y Hong, Pretreatment Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Drug Resistance Among Treatment-Naive Infants Newly Diagnosed With HIV in 2016 in Namibia: Results of a Nationally Representative Study, Open Forum Infectious Diseases, Volume 9, Issue 5, May 2022, ofac102, https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofac102
10. Gillian O’Bryan, Caryl Feldacker, Alison Ensminger, Magdaleena Nghatanga, Laura Brandt, Mark Shepard, Idel Billah, Mekondjo Aupokolo, Assegid Tassew Mengistu, Norbert Forster, Brigitte Zemburuka, Edwin Sithole, Gram Mutandi, Scott Barnhart, Gabrielle O’Malley (2021). Adverse event profile and associated factors following surgical voluntary medical male circumcision in two regions of Namibia, 2015-2018. PLoS ONE 16(10): e0258611. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258611
11. Steven Y. Hong, MD; Laimi S.N. Ashipala, MBChB; Leonard Bikinesi, MBChB; Ndapewa Hamunime, MBChB; Jacques W.N. Kamangu, MBChB; Ashley Boylan, MPH; Edwin Sithole, MBChB; Ismelda C. Pietersen, MPH; Gram Mutandi, MBChB; Catherine McLean, MD; Eric J. Dziuban, MD . Rapid Adaptation of HIV Treatment Programs in Response to COVID-19 — Namibia, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1549–1551.
12. Bikinesi L, O’Bryan G, Roscoe C, Mekonen T, Shoopala N, Mengistu AT, Gram Mutandi et al. Implementation and evaluation of a Project ECHO telementoring program for the Namibian HIV workforce. Hum Resour Health. 2020 Sep 1;18(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s12960-020-00503-w. PMID: 32873303; PMCID: PMC7466396.
13. Simon Agolory, Michael de Klerk, Andrew L. Baughman, Souleymane Sawadogo, Nicholus Mutenda, Ndumbu Pentikainen, Naemi Shoopala, Adam Wolkon, Negussie Taffa, Gram Mutandi,Anna Jonas, Assegid Tassew Mengistu, Edington Dzinotyiweyi, Dimitri Prybylski, Ndapewa Hamunime, Amy Medley (2018): Low Case Finding among Men and Poor Viral Load Suppression among Adolescents are Impeding Namibia’s Ability to Achieve UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018 Aug 11;5(9):ofy200. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofy200. PMID: 30211248; PMCID: PMC6128969.
14. Souleymane Sawadogo, Andreas Shiningavamwe, Clay Roscoe,Andrew L. Baughman,Taffa Negussie, Gram Mutandi, Chunfu Yang, Ndapewa Hamunime, and Simon Agolory (2018) HIV-1 Drug Resistance Patterns among Adult Patients Failing 2nd Line protease inhibitor-containing regimens in Namibia, 2010-2015. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2018 Jan 12;5(2):ofy014. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofy014. PMID:30568984; PMCID: PMC5798139.
15. Jonas Hines, G Mutandi, et al (2017) Scale-Up of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Services for HIV Prevention — 12 Countries in Southern and Eastern Africa, 2013–2016. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 66(47):1285-1290
16. Auld AF, Shiraishi RW, Oboho I, Mutandi G, et al. Trends in Prevalence of Advanced HIV Disease at Antiretroviral Therapy Enrollment — 10 Countries, 2004–2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017;66:558–563. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6621a3
17. Andrew F Auld, Ray Shiraishi, G Mutandi et al: Lower Levels of Antiretroviral Therapy Enrollment Among Men with HIV Compared with Women - 12 Countries, 2002-2013. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report 64(46):1281-1286
18. Souleymane Sawadogo, Boniface Makumbi, Anne Purfield, Christophine Ndjavera, Gram Mutandi, Andrew Maher, Francina Kaindjee-Tjituka, Jonathan E. Kaplan, Benjamín J. Park, David W. Lowrance (2016). Estimated Prevalence of Cryptococcus Antigenemia (CrAg) among HIV-Infected Adults with Advanced Immunosuppression in Namibia Justifies Routine Screening and Preemptive Treatment. PLoS ONE 11(10):e0161830 DOI·10.1371/journal.pone.0161830
19. Jonathan Grund, G Mutandi et al: (2013). Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision - Southern and Eastern Africa, 2010-2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MMWR 2013:62:[953-957]
20. Kaindjee-Tjituka F, Sawadogo S, Mutandi G, et al (2017). Task-shifting point-of-care CD4+ testing to lay health workers in HIV care and treatment services in Namibia. Afr J Lab Med. 2017;6(1), a643. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v6i1.643
CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS
1. N. Nyoni, M. Kawana, L. Bikinesi, M. Spinelli3, A. Mengistu, J. Kamangu, G. Mutandi P. Kalimugogo, D.Mouton, F. Negussie, R.S. Beard, M. Gandhi, S.Y. Hong. Evaluating Perceptions and Acceptance of Urine Tenofovir Point-of-Care Testing for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence in Namibia. 20TH International Conference on HIV Treatment and Prevention Adherence ,Oral Presentation, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2. L. Bikinesi, M. Spinelli, N. Nyoni, J. Hifindwako, A. Mengistu, J. Kamangu1, G. Mutandi, D. Mouton, F. Negussie, R.S. Beard, M. Gandhi, S.Y. Hong. Increased Viral Suppression with Adherence Counseling Incorporating a Point-of-Care Urine TFV Test. CROI Conference 2024, Poster Abstract Number 02457
3. N. Nyoni, S. Maya, J. Kamangu, D. Mouton, A. Mengistu, M. Spinelli, P. Kalimugogo, G. Mutandi, S.Y. Hong, P. Minchella, M. Gandhi, L. Bikinesi. Cost-Effectiveness of Urine Tenofovir Point Of Care Assay for ART Adherence Feedback in Namibia. CROI Conference 2024, Poster Abstract Number 02787
4. Leonard. Bikinesi1 , M. Spinelli2 , N. Nyoni 3 , J. Hifindwako, A. Mengistu, J. Kamangu, G. Mutandi, D. Mouton, F. Negussie, R.S. Beard, M. Gandhi, S.Y. Hong. A Low-cost, Rapid Urine Test for Tenofovir Increases ART Adherence and Viral Suppression. CROI Conference 2023, Poster Abstract Number 1038.1
5. N. Mehta, A. Stewart, K. Fisher, S. Ghosh, L. Santos, P. Harvey, M. Li, S. Mazibuko, S. Hong, G. Mutandi, C. Nyagatare, M.L. Umwangange, E. Yoboka, J. Kalamya, S. Agolory, K. Mweebo, L. Mulenga, P. Nyika, R. Weber, C. Mupanguri, S. Patel, J. Aberle-Grasse: Impact of COVID-19 on HIV treatment interruption in seven PEPFAR countries, April'June 2020. 11TH IAS CONFERENCE ON HIV SCIENCE
6. Pietersen IC, Seolwane B, Dzinotyiweyi E, Hamunime N, Ashipala L, Bikinesi LT, Hong SY, Dziuban EJ, Fischer-Walker C, Mutandi G,Cockburn D, Besa A, Moeller-Jensen K. High linkage rates from community HIV index testing program in Namibia. INTEREST 2020 Posterpresentation.
7. Bikinesi LT, Pietersen IC, Hong SY, Negussie T, Seolwane B, Hamunime N, Ashipala L, Dziuban EJ, Mutandi G, Knutson A, Cockburn D, Besa A, Moeller Jensen K. Are ART patients who miss appointments really lost? Determining true patient outcomes through tracing in 7 regions in Namibia. INTEREST 2020 Poster discussion.
8. Conteh N, Tang AM, Bikinesi LT, Hamunime N, Ashivudhi H, Shoopala N, Mutandi G, Kahwadi J, Hanganeni P, Nashidengo L, Mwenda H, Horner G, Ahmadi T, Jordan MR, Hong SY. Assessment of Community Adherence Club Implementation in Namibia’s ART Programme. INTEREST 2020. Poster Presentation.
9. Kakubu MAM, Basenero A, Hamunyela P, Alfeus N, Iitungu T, Iipinge J, Nghikumwa X, Mutandi G, Boylan A, Pietersen I. High community-based HIV testing yield among pregnant women who never attended antenatal clinic. INTEREST 2020. Poster Presentation.
10. Hamunime N, Li C, Mutandi G, Bikinesi L, Mengistu A, De Klerk M, Beukes A, Hong S, Dziuban E, Amman J, Sangrujee N. Cost of ART services among patients who achieved viral suppression and associated program characteristics: A case study of 9 ART sites in Namibia. INTEREST 2020. Mini-oral presentation.
11. Bikinesi LT, Pietersen IC, Hong SY, Negussie T, Seolwane B, Hamunime N, Ashipala L, Dziuban EJ, Mutandi G, Knutson A, Cockburn D, Besa A, Moeller Jensen K. Are ART patients who miss appointments really lost? Determining true patient outcomes through tracing in 7 regions in Namibia. International AIDS Society Conference 2020 Oral poster discussion session: PDE04
12. Pietersen IC, Seolwane B, Dzinotyiweyi E, Hamunime N, Ashipala L, Bikinesi LT, Hong SY, Dziuban EJ, Fischer-Walker C, Mutandi G, Cockburn D, Besa A, Moeller-Jensen K. High linkage rates from community HIV index testing program in Namibia. International AIDS Society Conference 2020 Poster presentation: E-posters Track E, PEE1577
13. Mekonen, Tadesse¹, Hamunime, Ndapewa¹, Kahwadi, Johannes¹, Shoopala, Naemi³, Mutandi, Gram³, Agolory, Simon³, Lee, Stephen6, Spedoske, Samantha6,Brandt, Laura4, Scott, John5, Unruh, Kent5, Wood, Brian5, Lehmer, Jutta², Iandorio, Michelle², Thornton, Karla², Kalishman, Summers², Reilley, Brigg²,Ellerbrock, Tedd³, Tison, Laura³, Johnson, Carla³, Pati,Rituparna³, Struminger, Bruce² (2018): Adaptation, implementation and evaluation of a tele-mentoring program for the Namibian HIV health workforce. Conference: International AIDS Society Conference 2018
14. Tuli Nakanyala , Andrew D. Maher , Sadhna V. Patel , Adam Wolkon , Karen Miriam Banda , Afiba Manza-A. Agovi Salomo Natanael , Souleymane Sawadogo , Shaan Chaturvedi , Gram Mutandi , Melody R. Chipadze , Charity Ntema , Dimitri Prybylski , Irene Mabuku , David W. Lowrance , Ndapewa Hamunime , Nicholus Mutenda, Willi McFarland (2016):Community-based CD4 cell count distributions among HIV-positive, ART-naïve adults in the highest prevalence region of Namibia: Programmatic implications for universal ART eligibility. International AIDS Society Conference 2018
15. Mekonen, Tadesse, Hamunime, Ndapewa, Kahwadi, Johannes, Shoopala, Naemi, Mutandi, Gram,Agolory, Simon, Lee, Stephen,Spedoske, Samantha6, Brandt, Laura, Scott, John, Unruh, Kent, Wood, Brian, Lehmer, Jutta, Iandiorio, Michelle, Thornton, Karla,Kalishman, Summers, Reilley, Brigg, Ellerbrock, Tedd, Tison, Laura, Johnson, Carla, Pati, Rituparna, Struminger, Bruce (2016): Improving access to high-quality care and treatment for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Namibia using the ECHO* model™ of virtual training and mentoring
16. Souleymane Sawadogo, Andreas Shiningavamwe, Andrew Baughman, Taffa Negussie, Gram Mutandi, Chunfu Yang, Ndapewa Hamunime, Simon Agolory HIV-1 Drug Resistance Pattern Among Patients Suspected of Failing 2nd Line Antiretroviral Therapy in Namibia. International AIDS Society Conference 2016
17. Mutandi G; Baughman A; De Klerk M; Hamunime N; Tjituka F ; Luphahla P; Mutenda N, Agolory S (IAS 2016)Trekking the Journey Along the HIV Cascade: Trends in Transition Times from HIV Diagnosis to Enrollment in Care and ART Initiation, Namibia 2003-2015. International AIDS Society Conference 2016
18. Anna Jonas, Andrew Maher, Ray W. Shiraishi, Michael De Klerk, Francina Tjituka, Gram Mutandi, Sadhna V. Patel, Anne-Marie Nitschke, Alexinah Muadinohamba, David W. Lowrance (2014). National ART Monitoring System Enables Robust Transfer-adjusted Retention Analyses in Namibia. Poster presentation at the Conference on Retroviruses and Infectious Diseases (CROI), Boston, Massachusetts March 3 to March 6, 2014
19. Souleymane Sawadogo, Boniface Makumbi, Anne Purfield, Christophine Ndjavera, Gram Mutandi, Andrew Maher, Francina Kaindjee Tjituka, Jon Kaplan, Benjamin J. Park, David W. Lowrance (2014). Prevalence of Cryptococcus Antigenemia (CrAg) among a sample of HIV-positive individuals in Namibia. Oral Presentation at the Africa Society of Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) 2014 Conference December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa
20. Francina Kaindjee-Tjituka, Souleymane Sawadogo, Gram Mutandi, Andrew Maher, Salomo Natanael, Claudia Mbapaha, Marytha Neo, Anita Beukes, Justice Gweshe, Dave Lowrance (2013). Feasibility, Effectiveness, and Impact of Pima CD4 Point of Care Testing in HIV Care and Treatment Services in Namibia. Poster Presentation at the 17th International Conference on AIDS and STIs (ICASA) December 2013, Cape Town, South Africa.
21. Gram Mutandi (MD); Ndapewa Hamunime (MD); Claire Dillavou (MPH) ; Ella K. Shihepo (MPH) 1; Jeff Hanson (PhD) 2; Bruce Agins (MD, MPH) 3; Margaret Palumbo (MPH) (2010). Integrating Quality Improvement Programs into Public HIV Care Delivery Systems in Resource Limited Settings, HIVQUAL Namibia. 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health, 3-7 December 2009, Mexico
22. Mutandi; G; Zarou; T. (MD); Mukamba; J. (MD); Qammar, N ; Hamunime; N. (MD); Dillavou; C. (MPH) (2009). Using Quality Improvement Programs to Accelerate the Implementation of the 3 ‘I’s - A Case Report of the Katutura. Health Centre HIVQUAL QI Project. Oral Presentation at the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health, 3-7 December 2009, Mexico
23. Hamunime, G. Mutandi, C. Dillavou, E.K. Shihepo, J. Hanson, B.D. Agins (2008). Improving clinical performance in HIV care in Namibia public health facilities; results of the HIVQUAL-Namibia baseline clinical. Poster Presentation at the 15th International Conference on AIDS and STIs (ICASA) Dakar, Senegal
Awards
- Certificate of Appreciation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Namibia, 2023
- Certificate of Appreciation, Ministry of Health and Social Services (Namibia), 2023
- Group Meritorious Honor Award, United States Department of State (US Mission in Namibia), 2023
- Individual Special Act or Service Award, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Division of Global HIV and TB, 2022
- Mission Honor Award, United States Department of State (US Mission in Namibia), 2022
- Group Honor Award, United States Department of State (US Mission in Namibia), 2020
- Personal Award, Ministry of Health and Social Services, 2020
- Franklin Award, United States Department of State (US Mission in Namibia), 2018
- Mission Honor Award, United States Department of State (US Mission in Namibia), 2017
- Excellence in Collaboration Award, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Division of Global HIV and TB, 2016
Professional Bodies Membership
- HIV Clinicians’ Society of Namibia
- HIV Clinicians’ Society of Southern Africa
- International AIDS Society (IAS)
- International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC)
- International Union Against Lung and Thoracic Disease (IUALTD)
Professional Licensures
- Registered Medical Practitioner, Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Council of Namibia, MPR00503
- Registered Medical Practitioner, Medical and Dental Practitioners’ Council of Zimbabwe, M377269
Affiliations
- Enthusiastic leaner and translation for the rapid adoptation of artificial intelligence to improve public health research, implementation and impact
Accomplishments
1. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: NAMIBIA (2023): CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION: FOR 18 YEARS OF INCREDIBLE SERVICE AT CDC NAMIBIA
2. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES(NAMIBIA): CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION (2023): FOR EXCEPTIONAL COACHING, MENTORING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO THE HIV AND STI SUBDIVISION TEAM
3. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (US MISSION IN NAMIBIA): GROUP MERITORIUS HONOR AWARD (2023): FOR MAKING THE CDC HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH SUPPORT MORE EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE
4. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: DIVISION OF GLOBAL HIV AND TB (2022): INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL ACT OR SERVICE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE AS THE ACTING CLINICAL SERVICES BRANCH CHIEF WITH CDC NAMIBIA
5. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (US MISSION IN NAMIBIA): MISSION HONOR AWARD (2022): FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO CDC NAMIBIA AS THE ACTING CLINICAL SERVICES BRANCH CHIEF
6. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (US MISSION IN NAMIBIA): MISSION HONOR AWARD (2022): FOR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT THAT HAS ENSURED THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INNOVATIVE PELEBOX PROJECT
7. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (US MISSION IN NAMIBIA): GROUP HONOR AWARD (2020): FOR PROVIDING OUTSTANDING INTERAGENCY TEAMWORK DURING PEPFAR NAMIBIA’S AGENCY PORTFOLIO REALIGNMENT PROCESS, RESULTING IN THE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF PORTFOLIOS BETWEEN IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS WITH NO MAJOR DISRUPTION OF HIV SERVICES IN FY19 AND FY20
8. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES (2020): PERSONNAL AWARD: IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS HIV QUALITY IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVES
9. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (US MISSION IN NAMIBIA): FRANKLIN AWARD (2018): FOR WORKING WITH MOHSS TO LEVERAGE PEPFAR NAMIBIA SUPPORT FOLLOWING THE END OF 2017 GLOBAL FUND GRANT THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF NEARLY 200 POSITIONS WITHIN MOHSS
10. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE (US MISSION IN NAMIBIA): MISSION HONOR AWARD (2017): FOR EXCEPTIONAL COORDINATION, DIPLOMACY, ADVOCACY SKILLS, AND WISDOM THAT LED TO THE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT ECHO IN NAMIBIA
11. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: DIVISION OF GLOBAL HIV AND TB: EXCELLENCE IN COLLBORATION AWARD-NAMIBIA PROJECT ECHO (2016): IN RECOGNITION OF A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IN WHICH TEAM MEMBERS HAVE DEMONSTRTAED EXCEPTIONAL TEAMWORK ON A PROJECT THAT ADVANCES THE WORK OF THE DGHT
12. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE: CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION (2014): FOR EXCEPTIONAL COLLABORATION, DEDICATION AND PESERVERENCE IN ADVANCING THE NATIONAL VMMC PROGRAM IN NAMIBIA
13. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE: CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION (2013): FOR EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION, COLLABORATION AND TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE INSUPPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GLOBAL FUND PHASE 2 APPLICATION FOR HIV/AIDS IN NAMIBIA
14. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: CENTER FOR GLOBAL HEALTH-DIRECTOR’S PARTNERSHIP AWARD (2013):IN RECOGNITION OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYED BY CDC WHOSE SERVICES OR SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL HEALTH GOALS OF CDC AND FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT PERFORM OUTSTANDING WORK BUILDING AND MAINTANING HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS
15. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION-NAMIBIA CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION: IN RECOGNITION OF THE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AS TECHNICAL ADVISOR TO THE SUCCESS OF THE 2009 PEPFAR IMPLEMENTERS MEETING
16. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION-NAMIBIA CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION (2008): IN RECOGNITION OF THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SUCCESS OF NAMIBIA’S FIRST EVER NATIONAL TESTING DAY
17. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES (2008): CERTFICATE OF APPRECIATION: FOR PARTCIPATION DURING THE FIRST EVER NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY
Certification
1. StataCorp LLC (August 2021) : CUSTOMIZED REPORTS USING STATA
2. StataCorp LLC (JULY 2021) : SURVIVAL ANALYSIS USING STATA
3. CENTER FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH (JUNE 2021): MULTIPLE REGRESSON AND CAUSAL INFERENCE
4. CENTER FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH (DECEMBER 2019): DATA CLEANING AND MANAGEMENT COURSE USING STATA
5. CENTER FOR STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH (AUGUST 2018): DATA ANALYSIS COURSE USING STATA
6. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (2016): CENTER FOR GLOBAL HEALTH OVERSEAS SUPERVISOR TRAINING
7. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (2012): INTERNATIONAL PROJECT OFFICER COURSE FOR GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS
8. CDC GRANT ADMINISTRATION FOR GRANTEES (NPI INC-USA) (MAY 2011)
9. UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (SA) - HEALTH MANAGEMENT COURSE (JULY 2008)
10. UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE (SA)- EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF HIV/AIDS (JULY 2008)
11. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: PROCUREMENT AND GRANTS OFFICE CONTRACTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING
12. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) OFFICE OF EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH: PROTECTING HUMAN RESEARCH PARTCIPANTS
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Service Fellow:Adult HIV Care and Treatment
US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
09.2023 - Current
ACTING ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL PROGRAMS
US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
04.2020 - 08.2023
TEAM LEAD:HIV PREVENTION ,CARE AND TREATMENT
US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
08.2016 - 04.2020
HIV CARE AND TREATMENT ADVISOR
QED GROUP LLC (USA)
03.2012 - 08.2016
TECHNICAL ADVISOR CLINICAL QUALITY ASSURANCE
CTS GLOBAL (USA)
08.2010 - 03.2012
HIV CLINICAL QUALITY IMPROVEMENT MEDICAL OFFICER
Ministry of Health and Social Services
02.2007 - 08.2010
SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER: HEAD-OSHAKATI ARV CLINIC
Ministry of Health and Social Services
07.2004 - 01.2007
PRIVATE FAMILY MEDICINE PRACTITIONER
SELF EMPLOYED
05.2003 - 06.2004
HOSPITAL MEDICAL OFFICER: UNITED BULAWAYO HOSPITAL
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE
03.2001 - 05.2003
SENIOR RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICER: MPILO HOSPITAL
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE
01.2000 - 02.2001
JUNIOR RESIDENT MEDICAL OFFICER
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND CHILD WELFARE
01.1999 - 12.1999
Master of Public Health -
University of the Western Cape
Diploma - HIV Management
Colleges of Medicine South Africa
MBchB - Medicine and Surgery
University of Zimbabwe
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