Emmanuel Yoksa Sambo
Bukuru,PL
Summary
Veterinary Epidemiologist with over 15 years of experience in advancing One Health initiatives and animal disease surveillance in Africa and the Middle East. Led zoonotic disease surveillance, outbreak response, and integrated immunization programs while utilizing digital health tools. Developed evidence-based frameworks for integrating human, animal, and environmental health interventions and contributed to surveillance and disease control policies in Palestine, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Animal Disease Surveillance Specialist
FAO
Jerusalem, Palestine Territory
01.2025 - Current
- Recently assigned to the State of Palestine under the coordination of FAO Palestine.
- Led prioritization of animal diseases in Palestine using the WOAH framework.
- Prepared national disease surveillance and control protocols for FMD, PPR, and Brucellosis, adopted as national disease control policy aimed at reducing prevalence by 70% in the next two years.
- Conducted training for national veterinary and public health staff on One Health surveillance and disease outbreak response to strengthen their capacity to respond effectively to outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging disease threats.
- Collaborated with national agencies and technical partners, thereby enhancing the ability to work with government and multicultural and multi-disciplinary staff effectively.
- Wrote technical reports on assigned tasks (including disease prioritization outcome report, work plan, and field implementation budget) and developed training materials leading to improved capacity of the surveillance team.
Management Support Team SIAs
AFENET
Abuja, FCT
01.2023 - Current
- Engaged as a national Supervisor (MST) during Measles-Rubella, Measles (stand-alone), Diphtheria, Yellow fever, Poliomyelitis campaigns and other integrated field intervention activities.
- Supervised integrated national immunization campaigns against Measles-Rubella, Yellow Fever, Diphtheria, Human Papillomavirus and Poliomyelitis across Nigeria with at least 85% coverage of areas supervised.
- Ensured coverage in underserved and hard-to-reach communities, and resolved non-compliance through community engagement and advocacy skills.
- Investigated suspected AFP, measles, and diphtheria cases with multidisciplinary teams and ensured One Health coordination of activities. Provided on-the-job training for field staff.
- Coordinated the delivery of other health interventions (Malaria prevention) carried out by teams as planned in the strategy, with targets surpassed.
- Uploaded real-time field data to the WHO and AFENET central servers using ODK Collect and shared daily activity summaries with the State Team Lead; as such, proficient in the use of mobile data collection tools.
- Drafted technical reports at the end of each exercise with actionable recommendations.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
Zoonotic/One Health Research Assistant Project Manager
Institute of Genomics and Global Health
Ede, OS
03.2024 - 11.2024
- Directed multi-country One Health and Zoonosis genomic surveillance projects on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases on-site and remotely, ensuring adherence to protocols and effective One Health coordination.
- Prepared project proposals, project progress reports to donors, ethics applications, grants, and budgets, and conducted stakeholder engagements. Was responsible for metadata validation, entry and storage, ensuring data security and accuracy.
- Oversaw field-level activities of multidisciplinary genomic surveillance teams on site and remotely, ethics compliance, SOP development and draft manuscripts to ensure compliance and scientific rigor for publication in peer review journals.
- Demonstrated adaptability in multicultural field settings, trained and mentored research staff and students, hence strengthening people management capabilities.
- Conducted extensive literature reviews to support ongoing research projects, significantly expanding team's knowledge base.
- Identified and resolved data discrepancies, ensuring highest level of accuracy in research outcomes.
- Developed and maintained databases to streamline research processes.
Veterinarian 2
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Yola , Adamawa
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Responsible for all livestock-related activities in two ICRC sub-delegations in North-Eastern Nigeria, a conflict-afflicted region.
- Implemented livestock health interventions in conflict zones, vaccinating over 2 million animals against CBPP and PPR in eight months in collaboration with state and national agencies. Timely technical reports with actionable recommendations drafted to superiors and stakeholders.
- Integrated veterinary and public health approaches to support climate resilience. Conducted regular risk assessments and mapping, ensured the safety of field staff and beneficiary communities during activities, with no staff, beneficiary or equipment affected during field implementation despite the presence of non-state actors.
- Built the capacity of state and LGA veterinary teams and CAHWs in disease preparedness and response to threats, which led to improved service delivery and antimicrobial stewardship by over 80%.
- Coordinated needs assessments, planning, budgeting, and pre- and post-implementation vaccine sero-monitoring, especially for PPR and M&E activities, both remotely and on-site in Adamawa and Borno States, Nigeria. Project management, monitoring and evaluation skills were further enhanced.
- Drafted project proposals and MoUs; took the lead in stakeholder negotiations and represented the ICRC at coordination meetings, and ensured the interests and mandates of the organization were maintained during decision-making with beneficiaries, government at all levels and partners.
Veterinary Officer
NCDC (REDISSE Project)
Makurdi, Benue State
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Employed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement project (REDISSE)-World Bank-funded, with a duty post in Benue State, Nigeria.
- Strengthened zoonotic disease surveillance through inter-agency One Health coordination, especially the reporting and diagnosis of suspected Rabies cases.
- Expanded the surveillance network by 70% via private sector integration and the development of user-friendly data tools for disease reporting across multiple surveillance sites.
- Supported AMR surveillance and rapid diagnosis of priority diseases by ensuring prompt sample collection and submission to reference laboratories. Conducted AMR awareness to livestock keepers and service providers, contributing to a reduction in indiscriminate use of antimicrobials in the state.
- Built the capacity and mentored surveillance agents across the 23 LGAs in the state, strengthening disease surveillance activities and outbreak responses via in-person and online training.
- Developed vaccination strategies against vaccine-preventable diseases, leading to containment of Rabies and PPR outbreaks in the state.
- Conducted risk assessments and designed communication strategies for zoonotic disease prevention and control at the State and LGA levels. These contributed to prompt disease reporting of suspected cases across the state.
NSTOP Officer
AFENET-LGA
Askira/Uba, BO
01.2014 - 01.2020
- Spearheaded routine immunization (RI) planning and implementation in a conflict-affected region, improving vaccine access for nomadic, displaced, and underserved populations.
- Led routine immunization and community engagement activities in conflict-affected communities, achieving 95% coverage by proactively ensuring the availability of antigens. This contributed to Nigeria being declared polio-free in 2020.
- Enhanced data quality using DHIS2 and ODK Collect for 34 active RI health facilities in the LGA and ensured prompt uploads of data to the dedicated server for prompt action at the state and national coordinating units.
- Coordinated with WHO, UNICEF, state, LGA and national agencies during roll-out of new vaccines and mass vaccination campaigns, ensuring coverage of conflicted, hard-to-reach and underserved communities. Developed personal safety and community-based protection skills.
- Built the capacity of health workers, community surveillance agents and LGA disease surveillance personnel on disease detection, reporting and infection prevention and control, leading to improved disease detection, reporting and control of vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Provided technical support for outbreak response and surveillance of COVID-19, mentored health officers in alignment with national health priorities.
- Developed training materials and conducted workshops to improve team performance and service delivery.
Team Leader
World Bank H5N1 control program
Lafia, NA
02.2011 - 06.2011
- Led the impact assessment of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak control in Plateau and Nasarawa States, Nigeria by a multidisciplinary team using qualitative tools.
- Trained multidisciplinary field teams in participatory disease surveillance, data collection and the use of GIS tools before field deployment, leading to effective data capture. Coordinated field activities and prepared work plans.
- Drafted comprehensive field reports for funders, tracked and ensured compliance with budgets and work plans.
- Mentored junior staff on best practices for project implementation and stakeholder engagement.
Consultant/Trainer in Participatory Epidemiology
ILRI
Makeni, Makeni, Sierra Leone
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Trained 400+ veterinarians and auxiliary staff in participatory disease surveillance across Nigeria and Sierra Leone as an ILRI-certified trainer, adhering to budgets and timelines. Drafted training manuals for use across the two countries.
- Conducted qualitative field surveys for ASF, PPR, CBPP, and HPAI in multiple countries, which led to a reduction in the spread of these diseases and the implementation of surveillance and preventive measures.
- Produced technical reports assessing training impact on surveillance systems with actionable recommendations to funders and national governments, leading to surveillance system upgrades.
- Acquired skills in Project Management and Monitoring and Evaluation of projects.
- Facilitated workshops to enhance knowledge of sustainable livestock management techniques among stakeholders.
- Evaluated participant feedback to refine training content and improve overall learning outcomes.
Early Detection, Reporting, and Surveillance
Avian Influenza Project in Africa
Ibadan, Oyo State
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Conducted surveillance and coordinated outbreak responses for avian influenza and other transboundary diseases in Nigeria, enhancing regional disease management efforts.
- Operated in remote, resource-scarce communities to conduct field activities with minimal supervision, ensuring comprehensive coverage of assigned locations and leading to recruitment as an international consultant after intensive training in Nairobi, Kenya.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Veterinary Medicine
University of Maiduguri
Maiduguri 04.2001 -
IELTS - English Language And Literature
British Council/University of Cambridge
Abuja, FCT, Nigeria03-2011
Certificate in Computer Appreciation - undefined
System Link
JosMaster of Science - Veterinary Science
University of Liverpool
Liverpool 04.2001 -
Skills
Data collection and management
Report writing
Project coordination
Analytical thinking
Problem-solving
Attention to detail
Critical thinking
Teamwork and collaboration
Time management
Adaptability and flexibility
Interpersonal skills
Cultural awareness
Project management
Data collection and management
DHIS2 data management
Timeline
Animal Disease Surveillance Specialist
FAO
01.2025 - Current
Zoonotic/One Health Research Assistant Project Manager
Institute of Genomics and Global Health
03.2024 - 11.2024
Management Support Team SIAs
AFENET
01.2023 - Current
Veterinarian 2
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
01.2022 - 01.2023
Veterinary Officer
NCDC (REDISSE Project)
01.2021 - 01.2022
NSTOP Officer
AFENET-LGA
01.2014 - 01.2020
Team Leader
World Bank H5N1 control program
02.2011 - 06.2011
Consultant/Trainer in Participatory Epidemiology
ILRI
01.2009 - 01.2011
Early Detection, Reporting, and Surveillance
Avian Influenza Project in Africa
01.2008 - 01.2011
Bachelor of Science - Veterinary Medicine
University of Maiduguri
04.2001 -
Master of Science - Veterinary Science
University of Liverpool
04.2001 -
Certificate in Computer Appreciation - undefined
System Link
IELTS - English Language And Literature
British Council/University of Cambridge
Awards
Ford Foundation Fellowship Award 2010 – 2011
Publications
- Http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2014.10.014.
- Https://hdl.handle.net/10568/64992
- Https://hdl.handle.net/10568/32781
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Participatory Disease Surveillance in Plateau State, Nigeria. Archives Des Sciences, 65(5), 2012.
- Effect of Pregnancy on Some Biochemical Parameters in Sahel Goats. Veterinary Research Communications, 2004.
Conference and Seminar Attendance
I have attended several, both within and outside Nigeria, as a participant and facilitator.