The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), under the Health Fellowship Corps training programme bid farewell to its 2019/2020 Fellowship cohort.

Every year, from August to June, CIDRZ hosts fellows under the prestigious CIDRZ HealthCorps Fellowship led by the Chief  Scientific Officer Dr. Roma Chilengi. The fellowship programme is owned by CIDRZ in collaboration with the UAB Sparkman Centre, which attracts graduates from different fields of study who competitively get a place to work on various projects within the organisation.

The Fellowship programme enrolls candidates from various fields of study with a Master’s degree qualification. The selected fellows work in different projects at CIDRZ while the fellowship program helps them identify their research and career interests.  Under the 2019/20 Fellowship cohort, CIDRZ hosted 12 Fellows.

Speaking during the Fellows end of Fellowship presentation ceremony at Nomads Court Lodge in Lusaka, CIDRZ- Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Roma Chilengi said that the fellowship is something that CIDRZ is proud of and the outgoing fellows should endeavor to speak the language of their mentors as they build on what they have learnt from the Fellowship.

“Research is a language that one has to learn, and to do so one needs to speak the language of their mentors to benefit from the mentorship scheme”, Dr Chilengi Said.

Dr Chilengi thanked the fellows for the time and opportunity to share their experience with the organisation and wished them all the best in their future endeavors.

Under the Fellowship 2019/20 stream, CIDRZ hosted,  Charlie Lunchen  under the Enteric Diseases and Research Unit, Peter Alabi  and  Mwelwa Chibuye  – Analysis Unit , Mwiza Nyasa – Social Behavior Science Unit,  Chilambwe Mwila – Implementation Science and Strategic Information unit , Sara Nyangu – TB Department , Kalongo Hamusonde – HIV CCC (Coinfection, Comorbidity and Complications) ,  Dr. Guy Kayeye – Hepatitis unit  and Dr. Ethel Kamuti, Dr. Masiliso Munyinda , Dr. Katanekwa Njekwa   and Dr. Fiona Mureithi  under Clinical Trials, respectively.