Agriculture &Case Management &CHW &Essential Medicines Bill Brieger | 17 Feb 2021 09:07 am
Frederick Olori Oshiname (1954-2021): Malaria and Tropical Health Researcher
Fred Oshiname has been my student, colleague and friend for 35 years. I was fortunate to supervise his MPH dissertation and PhD thesis when I was at the University of Ibadan. He has been a major partner in many tropical disease and malaria research projects over the years. His untimely passing deprives us of more fruitful years of malaria research in Nigeria.
Below is a brief summary of some of the malaria research projects/teams for which Fred was a partner. At his memorial service friends and colleagues commented on the valuable role he played in any team in helping the group focus, plan and produce quality work. The articles mentioned below are examples of such work.
One of Fred’s first contributions was designing and implementing training for patent medicine vendors, a major, though informal source of primary care for malaria and other diseases in Nigeria. This training demonstrated that medicine shops could become a reliable part of malaria treatment programs.
Subsequently, he was part of a team that helped develop a community-based essential medicine revolving fund for community health workers. CHWs were found to be another important component of malaria control.
Continuing on the theme of medicines for malaria, Fred was part of a team that examined how perceptions of medicine efficacy and appropriateness were influenced by the color of the drugs. This study aimed at determining perceptions of both consumers and sellers of medicines at the community level to learn about color likes and dislikes that might influence acceptance of new color-coded child prepacks of antimalarial drugs
As part of another team, Fred examined malaria knowledge and agricultural practices that promote mosquito breeding in two rural farming communities in Oyo State, Nigeria. The team learned of the urgent need to engage farmers in meaningful dialogue on malaria reduction initiatives including the modification of agricultural practices which favor mosquito breeding.
He also participated in a multi country team that studied the Feasibility of Malaria Diagnosis and Management at the community level in Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Uganda: A Community-Based Observational Study. An important lesson learned by the group was that provision of diagnosis and treatment via trained CHWs increases access to diagnosis and treatment, shortens clinical episode duration, and reduces the number of severe cases.
That team went on to conduct Training Community Health Workers to Manage Uncomplicated and Severe Malaria: Experience From 3 Rural Malaria-Endemic Areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. The training and related supervision resulted in improved diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated and severe malaria. Furthermore, this training was connected with greater acceptability of community health workers by the communities where they worked.
We trust that these endeavors have made a major contribution to knowledge and the field of malaria control.
on 17 Feb 2021 at 10:19 am 1.Adebola OYADOKE said …
Thanks so much Baba Oloye for this piece reminding all of us his sincere contributions towards prevention of communicable diseases and his efforts to train those who crossed his path.
May the good God comfort all his.
on 17 Feb 2021 at 3:37 pm 2.Bright Orji said …
Fred was an accomplished researcher, and has contributed enormously to the body of knowledge. Though his work speaks on, but we will surely miss him. Thanks so much Oloye for all you have done, time and effort you invested into Fred’s life as his teacher, supervisor and mentor. We are privileged to drink from the fountains of your grace. Fred has left an indelible prints on the sands of time because he met you and we met him!
on 18 Feb 2021 at 2:00 am 3.Dr Francis Eremutha said …
Great work. Thank you Prof for sharing this insight.