Kelvin Charambira
Medical Doctor, Epidemiologist, and Infectious Disease Specialist
Westgate
Summary
Experienced Medical Doctor - Infectious Disease Specialist Manager skilled in managing disease control projects bringing 16 years of valuable expertise. Advanced understanding of infectious disease epidemiology, organizational strategies, financial management, strategic and work planning. Expertise in operations research, data analysis, report and manuscript writing, and business development.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
10
10
Certifications
2
2
Languages
Work History
Program Manager TB and HIV
Clinton Health Access Initiative
02.2025 - Current
- Managed multiple strategic projects with numerous sub-projects or workstreams (UNITAID funded THRIVE Advanced HIV Disease grant; UNITAID funded IMPAACT4TB; GATES funded Community Viral Load Monitoring grant; LEEP funded Paint Market Research project; GATES funded Ferric Carboxymaltose Landscaping analysis; GATES funded GC8 Technical Support Units for Global Fund GC8)
Africa Region Drug-resistant TB Technical Consultant
IBTCI Inc
04.2024 - 01.2025
- Supported the Kenyan National TB Programme introducing and scaling up the BPaL/M regimens implementation resulting in country-wide increase in RR/MDR-TB treatment coverage.
Regional Drug-Resistant TB Advisor
ICF Inc
11.2021 - 03.2024
- Led the development of the Drug Resistant-TB (DR-TB) Country Action Plans for the IDDS projects in Uganda, Malawi, and Mozambique.
- Introduced Xpert MTB/XDR Assay in the three above countries including Zimbabwe bridging the gap on drug susceptibility testing for Isoniazid and Fluoroquinolones.
- Facilitated diagnostic algorithms review and training of the healthcare workers and laboratory personnel ensuring optimal uptake of the Xpert MTB/XDR assay.
- Led introduction of the broth microdilution method (BDM) and next generation sequencing (NGS) which increased access to second-line drug susceptibility testing for the new and repurposed drugs in Uganda.
- Led the development of the Xpert MTB/XDR superuser package and jointly-facilitated the maiden combined training with TrueNat whilst introducing the later mWRD into the diagnostic network of the Malawi TB program.
- Led the introduction of the Simple One-Step stool testing on Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra in Malawi to increase case finding among children.
PMDT Technical Advisor
The Union
06.2013 - 10.2021
- Lead-writer for the successful USD600,000 TB REACH Wave 9 funding request and supported the funding request proposal development for TB/HIV Global Fund NFM 1-3 cycles. In addition, I developed and implemented Annual Activity Plans for the USAID funded TB CARE I, Challenge TB and TB LON projects spanning through 10 years.
- Participated in the development of the three Zimbabwe National TB Strategic Plans (2012-16, 2017-20 and 2021-25).
- Led the implementation of all the PMDT activities for the USAID and Global Fund which included introduction of new diagnostic tools and treatment regimens for DR-TB; development and revision of treatment guidelines and training materials; training of health care workers including report writing.
- Led the planning, implementation and report writing the first-ever country wide Drug Resistance Survey (TB-DRS) (2015/16).
- Authored five TB/HIV research manuscripts published in peer reviewed journals informing policy changes including Childhood TB.
- Participated in TB/HIV Program Reviews for Zimbabwe since 2011.
Service Center Manager
Premier Services Medical Investments
06.2012 - 05.2013
- Managed in and out-patients across all specialties.
- Supervised all the clinic staff.
District Medical Officer
Ministry of Health and Child Care
04.2010 - 05.2012
- Managed in and out-patients across all specialties including emergency care.
- Managed all the disease prevention and care programs in the district.
- Family Health programming including TB/HIV counselling, maternal/child health, nutrition, and family planning.
- Supervised all the Ministry of Health and Child Care staff in the district.
Junior and Senior Resident Medical Officer
Ministry of Health and Child Care
11.2007 - 03.2010
- Rotated in General Surgery, Maxillo-facial Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics, Anesthetics, and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration
University of Suffolk
Harare01.2024
Master of Science - Epidemiology
University of London
London01.2019
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - Medicine
University of Zimbabwe
Harare01.2007
Skills
- Project Management
- Team and Program Leadership
- Proposal Writing
- Business Development
- Data Analysis and Presentation
- Report and Manuscript Writing
- Peer Reviewing
- Communication skills
- Operations Research and Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
- Problem Solving and Decision-making
- Risk analysis and management
- Strategic planning, work planning work planning and prioritization
Accomplishments
- Sourced, developed, and secured more than half a million USD for DR-TB programs leading to improved patient care.
- Introduced and scaled up new diagnostic tools for TB contributing to increased case finding and universal access to DST in Zimbabwe, Malawi, Uganda and Mozambique.
- Revised DR-TB treatment policy in Kenya.
- Conducted several operations research and epidemiological studies, disseminating the results in peer reviewed journals resulting in policy changes.
Affiliations
- Member, Zimbabwe Medical and Dental Practitioners Council
- Member, Zimbabwe College of Public Health Practitioners
Certification
Good Clinical Practice
References
- Reeti Hobson, TB Strategic Lead IDDS, ICF, Reeti.Hobson@icf.com, +1 (301) 5720366
- Dr. Ronald Ncube, Executive Director, Union Zimbabwe Trust, rncube@uzt.org.zw, +263782706866
- Dr. Charles Sandy, Deputy Director AIDS&TB Unit, Ministry of Health and Child Care, dr.c.sandy@gmail.com, +263774358476
- Edmund Rutta, Senior TB Technical Advisor, USAID Bureau for Global Health | TB Division, erutta@usaid.gov, +1202-916-2057
- Dr. Shepherd Mufudzi Machekera, Specialist, Public Health and M&E, SEA and EECA Teams, shepherdmufudzi.machekera@theglobalfund.org, +41763192571
Interests
Reading journals
Keeping up with current affairs
Sports
Music
Travel
Timeline
Program Manager TB and HIV
Clinton Health Access Initiative
02.2025 - Current
Africa Region Drug-resistant TB Technical Consultant
IBTCI Inc
04.2024 - 01.2025
Regional Drug-Resistant TB Advisor
ICF Inc
11.2021 - 03.2024
PMDT Technical Advisor
The Union
06.2013 - 10.2021
Service Center Manager
Premier Services Medical Investments
06.2012 - 05.2013
District Medical Officer
Ministry of Health and Child Care
04.2010 - 05.2012
Junior and Senior Resident Medical Officer
Ministry of Health and Child Care
11.2007 - 03.2010
Master of Science - Epidemiology
University of London
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - Medicine
University of Zimbabwe
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration
University of Suffolk