About National Immunization Technical Advisory Group Support Hub (NISH)
National Immunization Technical Advisory Group Support Hub (NISH)
About this Collection
The National Immunization Technical Advisory Group Support Hub (NISH) is a 5-year (2021 to 2026) project hosted by the Vaccines for Africa Initiative (VACFA) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). NISH provides training, research, and scientific support to NITAGs in the African region in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The overarching goal of the NISH project is to strengthen evidence-based vaccine decision-making in Africa by, (i) increasing access to relevant, high-quality research evidence to inform improved recommendations for vaccination policies, programmes, and practices; (ii) improving the capacity of NITAGs in vaccinology, evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM), mathematical modelling, health economics, design thinking, and health systems; (iii) contributing to the evidence-base on vaccine-preventable diseases in Africa; and, (iv) creating context-specific and sustainable solutions to some of the pressing challenges faced by immunization programs within the region.
This collection comprises articles documenting the dynamic scope of training and research efforts led by NISH in partnership with key global and international stakeholders working together to enhance the role and functionality of NITAGs in Africa. This NISH collection highlights the capacity strengthening needs of African-based NITAGs, the pivotal role of initiatives like NISH in supporting EIDM for vaccines and immunization services in Africa, as well as primary research findings and evidence syntheses needed to guide rational vaccine policy recommendations.
Collection Advisors
Prof Benjamin Kagina
Benjamin Kagina is an Associate Professor within the School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, in the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is the Co-Director of the Vaccines for Africa Initiative, and the Director and Principal Investigator of the NITAG Support Hub (NISH). His research primarily focuses on evidence-based practice in the field of vaccinology.
Dr Edina Amponsah-Dacosta
Edina Amponsah-Dacosta serves as a Research Officer and Evidence-Informed Decision-Making Specialist on the NISH project. She is a trained Medical Virologist, Vaccinologist, and Health Systems researcher. Her research interests include assessing health systems capacity to support under-utilized immunization programmes like hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, Human Papillomavirus vaccination, and maternal immunization programmes in Africa.
This collection comprises articles documenting the dynamic scope of training and research efforts led by NISH in partnership with key global and international stakeholders working together to enhance the role and functionality of NITAGs in Africa. This NISH collection highlights the capacity strengthening needs of African-based NITAGs, the pivotal role of initiatives like NISH in supporting EIDM for vaccines and immunization services in Africa, as well as primary research findings and evidence syntheses needed to guide rational vaccine policy recommendations.
Collection Advisors
Prof Benjamin Kagina
Benjamin Kagina is an Associate Professor within the School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, in the University of Cape Town, South Africa. He is the Co-Director of the Vaccines for Africa Initiative, and the Director and Principal Investigator of the NITAG Support Hub (NISH). His research primarily focuses on evidence-based practice in the field of vaccinology.
Dr Edina Amponsah-Dacosta
Edina Amponsah-Dacosta serves as a Research Officer and Evidence-Informed Decision-Making Specialist on the NISH project. She is a trained Medical Virologist, Vaccinologist, and Health Systems researcher. Her research interests include assessing health systems capacity to support under-utilized immunization programmes like hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination, Human Papillomavirus vaccination, and maternal immunization programmes in Africa.
Collection Advisors
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Benjamin Kagina
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Edina Amponsah-Dacosta