LUNCH SESSION: ECHO Communities of Practice: An Approach to Strengthen AMS in Africa – Lessons Learned from Zambia - SPONSORED BY ECHO TEACH AMS
Tracks
Meeting Room 1.40
Meeting Room 1.61 - 1.62
Meeting Room 1.63 - 1.64
| Tuesday, July 1, 2025 |
| 12:40 PM - 1:20 PM |
Overview
Speakers: Dr Leonard Bikinesi, Christine Mugo-Sitati, Dr Joseph Chizimu I Chair: Ms Alethea Mashamba
Details
This session will provide an overview of the ECHO model and its applications in various programs, including infection prevention, AMS, cancer, and outbreak emergency response. The focus will be on the TEACH AMS ECHO program, currently being implemented in seven African countries, with a special case study from Zambia. Project ECHO has proven to be a pivotal model for workforce development, as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy makers and frontline workers gained valuable knowledge and skills through the ECHO model without disrupting their regular work routines. In an environment characterized by persistent funding cuts, ECHO emerges as a cost-effective model for capacity building and has the ability to support countries achieve their objectives at scale, with speed, high quality and lower cost.
Speaker
Dr Leonard Bikinesi
TEACH AMS ECHO
LUNCH SESSION: ECHO Communities of Practice: An Approach to Strengthen AMS in Africa – Lessons Learned From Zambia - SPONSORED BY ECHO TEACH AMS
Biography
Dr. Leonard Bikinesi, Project ECHO Africa Consultant. Dr. Bikinesi is a specialist family physician and HIV technical expert with 15 years of clinical experience involving HIV and TB care, treatment, prevention, public health, and quality improvement. He is the Program Director of IntraHealth Namibia and has also served as the Chief Clinical Mentor at the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MHSS) through 2024, leading Namibia’s Clinical Mentorship Program and the ECHO program, which provides ongoing capacity building to healthcare workers on HIV, TB, and STI care, treatment, and support. The Namibia ECHO program has been running since 2015.
Dr. Bikinesi is a key regional ECHO Consultant. In addition, he has provided strategic technical guidance to multiple African countries as a consultant working closely with Ministries of Health, WHOAFRO, and other NGOs. In this role, he has supported them to set up and implement clinical mentorship and Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) programs. His area of interest includes HIV drug resistance, workforce development, and research.
Dr Joseph Chizimu
TEACH AMS ECHO
LUNCH SESSION: ECHO Communities of Practice: An Approach to Strengthen AMS in Africa – Lessons Learned From Zambia - SPONSORED BY ECHO TEACH AMS
Biography
Dr. Joseph Chizimu, Zambia National Public Health Institute. Doctor of Infectious Diseases, Dr Chizimu has worked as the Antimicrobial Resistance National Focal Point and Coordinator at the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNHPI) since 2022 and serves on the Hub Team for the Zambia AMS ECHO Program. Operating under the Ministry of Health, ZNHPI seeks to improve health of all Zambians through coordinating priority public health and health security activities and resources; leveraging strong partnerships at the international, national, and sub-national levels; generating and analyzing scientific evidence for advocacy, policies and programs; and prioritizing public health functions. It serves as the Secretariat to the national AMRCC and is responsible for coordinating the implementation of Zambia's Multi-sectoral National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Christine Mugo-Sitati
TEACH AMS ECHO
LUNCH SESSION: ECHO Communities of Practice: An Approach to Strengthen AMS in Africa – Lessons Learned From Zambia - SPONSORED BY ECHO TEACH AMS
Biography
Christine Mugo-Sitati, ECHO Africa Program Manager.
Christine joined Project ECHO full-time in 2024 as the Program Manager for our ECHO Africa office in Nairobi, Kenya, but has worked with Project ECHO in various capacities since 2019 when she became a Hub Coordinator for the Africa Cancer Research and Control ECHO. Christine has over 14 years’ experience in organizational leadership and development, program design and management, policy advocacy and external relations, change management, business development, monitoring, evaluation and research, resource mobilization and budget management.
