University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Dr Adidja Amani is a highly experienced senior public health specialist, vaccinologist, university lecturer and researcher, renowned for her contributions in designing, implementing and evaluating disease control programmes at national and international levels. With over 15 years of expertise, she joined the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region in February 2022 to provide support to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. read more
In her current role, Dr Amani leads technical support for the global Covid-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership in five countries: Kenya, Gabon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon. Dr Amani works closely with the Country Support Team and collaborates with organizations such as United Nations Children’s Fund, WHO, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, United States Agency for International Development and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, aiming for the successful delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, Dr Amani has played a pivotal role in the overall response to the crisis. Initially serving as the director of vaccination at the Ministry of Public Health of Cameroon, she later joined WHO to assist countries in their preparedness, deployment and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr Amani is a distinguished Fulbright Scholar and a Mandela Washington Fellow for Young African Leaders. She holds degrees from the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon, University of Siena in Italy, Boston University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Georgia State University in the USA.
Dr Adidja Amani has no interests/relationships or affiliations to disclose in relation to this activity.
American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
Prof. Nada Melhem is a professor of infectious diseases and microbiology (virology and immunology) at the Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. Prof. Melhem is currently the director of the Division of Health Professions and the chair of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Program at the Faculty of Health Sciences. read more
Prof. Melhem has developed a transdisciplinary and translational research programme addressing viral immunopathogenesis and the epidemiology of viruses, and their impact on global human health. Prof. Melhem’s research programme focuses on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and viral diarrhoeal diseases, specifically noroviruses and COVID-19. Prof. Melhem is currently leading the SARS-CoV-2 National Surveillance Genomic Program for healthcare workers and hospitalized patients.
Prof. Melhem is an elected council member of the International Society for Infectious Diseases and serves on the World Health Organization (WHO) SARS-CoV-2 Evolution Technical Advisory Group. She is also a member of the National Committee for Communicable Diseases, serving as a scientific advisor to the minister of public health and the director general of the ministry in Lebanon. Prof. Melhem serves as a member of the national COVID-19 Crisis Management Committee in Lebanon, the WHO COVID-19 Epidemiology Technical Advisory Group and Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution. She is also the representative of low-resource settings on rapid evidence assessment of drug candidates of the Coalition for Equitable ResearCh in Low-resource sEttings (CERCLE), previously COVID-19 Clinical Research Coalition. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Melhem has served on the COVID-19 Expert Committee at the American University of Beirut.
Prof. Nada Melhem has no interests/relationships or affiliations to disclose in relation to this activity.
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On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The impact on the medical community has been huge, not only on the front line of medical care but also for those navigating patient treatment during this unprecedented situation.
The touchINFECTIOUS DISEASES expert faculty have been sharing their experiences and advice during this challenging time through video interviews and short articles.
