Project Director - Dr O O Simooya

Oscar Simooya studied medicine at the University of Zambia in Lusaka, Zambia and then trained in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, England. He has over 18 years research and training experience and has held teaching and research positions in Zambia, United Kingdom, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

He is currently Medical Officer at the Copperbelt University in Kitwe, Zambia and is registered as a Consultant in Clinical Pharmacology with the Medical Counsil Of Zambia and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Zambia. He sits on the board of the Copperbelt Health Education Project (CHEP) and is the Project Director of IN BUT FREE an HIV/AIDS intervention in Zambian Prisons.

Dr Simooya 's main research interests include studies of tropical deseases and HIV/AIDS He has over the years published widely on the sujects in both local and international journals and has presented research papers at several international meetings. His most recent paper was based on the study of HIV risk behaviours in Zambian prisons, which was published in BMJ in 2002.

Dr Simooya has received a number of international awards and fellowships. These include awards from World Health Organisation, The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Ireland AID, The Global Health Council/USAID, The Smith & Nephew Foundation and the Network of AIDS Researchers of Southern and East Africa.(NARESA)

Recent Publications

O.O. Simooya et al., (1995). Sexual behaviour and issues of HIV/AIDS prevention in African Prisons. AIDS ;   Vol 9(12):1388-9

O.O. Simooya et al., (2000).Acceptability of condoms for HIV/AIDS prevention in African Prisons. BMJ; Vol 320

O.O. Simooya et al., (2001).IN BUT FREE -An HIV/AIDS intervention in African Prisons. Culture, Health & Sexuality; Vol 3(2): 241 -251

O.O. Simooya et al., (2001). "BEHIND WALLS" - A Study of HIV Risk Behaviours and Seloprevalance in Zambian Prisons. AIDS; Vol 15 (13 ):1741-1744

O.O. Simooya et al., (2002). Infections and risk factors in entrant to Irish prisons. Study in Zambia showed that robust response is needed in prisons BMJ ; Vol 324 ( 7341):850

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