Ghana,
Population: 100,000
KNUST-IVI COLLABORATING CENTRE AND DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEILLANCE
SITE (RESEARCH CENTRE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH)
DSS POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS: The KNUST-IVI Collaborative Centre (KICC) has a total population of about 100,000. About 60% of the population are in Agogo, the capital of the district. 70% are self-employed with 60% engaged in agriculture. One-third of the community above 11 years are illiterate with most schools centred at Agogo. About 75% are Christians divided into different sects with their set of rules with just below 20% being Muslim and about five per cent belonging to the traditional sect.
LOCATION AND PROFILE
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) opened KICC in 2021 where it began operations at KNUST/Agogo Presbyterian Hospital. The KICC is nested in the Asante Akim North District in the eastern section of the Ashanti Region of Ghana, a region renowned for its rich cultural heritage and vibrant community life.
The district’s eastern boundaries serve as a barrier between the Ashanti Region and the Eastern Region of Ghana. It has borders with the following: The Sekyere Kumawu and Sekyere Afram Plains Districts are located to the north, while the Kwahu East District is situated to the east. The southern consists of two districts: Asante-Akim South and Asante-Akim Central. The district is positioned between the latitudes of 6°60’N and 7°30’N, as well as the longitudes of 0°15’W and 01°20’W. The land area it encompasses is 1,125
square km.
The KNUST-IVI Collaborating Centre (KICC) established to enable joint research, development, and capacity-building activities to achieve regional health objectives as well as the UN’s global goals, the Centre addresses critical health challenges, advance scientific knowledge and stands as a beacon of research excellence in the region. With a commitment to improving health outcomes and fostering community wellbeing, KICC plays a vital role in driving impactful research initiatives and promoting evidence-based interventions with a shared vision of eliminating typhoid and other vaccine-preventable diseases in Ghana and beyond. Spanning across this district, the centre serves as a pivotal hub for collaborative research endeavors at the intersection of academia and public health.
SITE LEADER AND DIRECTOR: Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo BSc, MB ChB, MSc, PhD, FWACP, FGCP. Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo; a distinguished academic serves as the esteemed Director of the KICC. With a wealth of expertise spanning multiple disciplines, Prof. Owusu-Dabo leads groundbreaking research initiatives aimed at advancing public health, fostering collaborations, and driving innovation in disease
control and prevention strategies. His visionary leadership and dedication to academic excellence have positioned the KICC as a global leader in research and education in the field of infectious diseases and epidemiology.