Frederick Murunga Wekesah

Position before the programme:Field Study Coordinator, APHRC, Nairobi
Current position: Research Officer, Health Challenges and Systems Programme, APHRC, Nairobi
Student years at Wits University: 2009 - 2010
Host HDSS centre for the field attachment: Ifakara, Tanzania

For Frederick, the master’s programme was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“Prior, I was involved in the organisation as a field personnel contributing to research at a less technical level. The intricacies that went into study designs, writing and publications from empirical data remained foreignto me. When the opportunity arose and I seized it, and INDEPTH Secretariat was gracious enough to sponsor my study,everythingchanged” he said.

He said after completing the 18-month programme, he was able to understand what really happens in research; with all the data collected in theNairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (NUHDSS), why it was being collected, why it should be collected and to appreciate the contributions of all the effort that researchers give to their work and the contributions and impact of their work to policies that affect humanity.

“I came back and re-joined the organisation as a part of the great team of researchers, having been empowered and possessing the knowledge, skills and capacity that would be necessary for my work. Now, I wouldn't know what else I would rather be than a researcher. All these thanks tothe INDEPTH Secretariat. Long live the Secretariat!” Frederick said.

Now a Project Research Officer at the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), Frederick isinvolved in all aspects of research including study design, proposal writing, project management, supervision of data collection, data management and analysis as well as contributing to publications.

Frederick’s research topic was on: The Association between HIV/AIDS related adult deaths and the migration of household members in Rural Rufiji District in Tanzania.