Professor Kofi Mensah Nyarko is the Ag. Dean of the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences (SNES), UESD. He is also a renowned Public Health Practitioner and a Medical Doctor. He holds PhD in Public Health Epidemiology and Masters in Public Health (MPH). He is an adjunct Professor of Public Health at the College of Medicine and Allied Sciences, University of Sierra Leone, and was also an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Namibia. He won research grants and has over 135 publications in the field of epidemiology and public health.
Prof. Nyarko has over 20 years of experience in clinical medicine, public health, epidemiology, programme management, health systems policy, strategic plan development, research, as well as monitoring and evaluation. He has worked at all levels of health delivery systems in Ghana and abroad. He worked to build the capacity of several health and allied professionals within the One Health Concept. This effort helped to strengthen global public health surveillance into a robust and resilient system to respond to pandemics such as: Influenza, COVID-19, SARS, Ebola Viral Disease, Marburg Viral Disease, Cholera and Meningitis.
He led the Rapid Mortality Surveillance (RMS) in Sierra Leone and several outbreak investigations in sub-Saharan Africa. He also served as the country lead for the Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) in Sierra Leone; the Programme Director for the Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme at the University of Ghana; the Resident Advisor for field epidemiology and laboratory training in Namibia and Sierra Leone; and a consultant to several international and multilateral organizations such as WAHO, WHO, UNICEF, Africa CDC and the Global Funds. He mentored over 500 field epidemiology residents and staff of the Ministries of Health in Africa and received a plaque of excellent leadership for his contribution to field epidemiology training in Africa.
He is married with two children and his hobbies are football, sightseeing and farming.
1. Communicable Diseases
2. Public Health Surveillance
3. Disaster Risk Management
4. Non Communicable Diseases
5. Climate Changes and Health”
1. Communicable and Non Communicable Diseases
2. Public Health Surveillance and Disease Outbreak Investigations
3. Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
4. Climate Change and Health
5. Disaster Risk Management
6. Occupational Health and Safety
7. Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health
2022 – date: Ag. Dean, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ghana
2021- 2022: Head, Department of Environment and Public Health, University of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ghana
2019 – 2021: Resident Advisor, Sierra Leone Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP), Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Sierra Leone
2016 – 2019: Resident Advisor, Namibia Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NamFELTP), CDC-Namibia/ MoHSS
2012 – 2016: Program Director, the Ghana Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (GFELTP), (Ghana Health Service/ School of Public Health, University of Ghana).
2012 – 2016: Program Manager, NCDs Control Program, Disease Control and Prevention Department -Ghana Health Service.
2009 – 2012: National Cancer Control Focal Person & Deputy Program Manager, NCDs Control Program, Disease Control and Prevention Department – Ghana Health Service.
2003 – 2005: Medical Superintendent, Tepa District Hospital, Ghana Health Service, Ashanti Region, Ghana)
2021 – Adjunct Professor: College of Medicine and Allied Sciences, University of Sierra Leone
2018 – Associate Professor: School of Public Health, University of Namibia
2007 – 2016: Adjunct Lecturer: School of Public Health University of Ghana