Dr Patricia I. Otuh
Senior Lecturer/Consultant, Veterinary Public Health, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Nigeria.
"Having strong next-generation institutional based research leaders across Africa with efficient science communication channels to end-users is key in entrenching positive societal transformative impacts."
Dr Patricia Ihuaku Otuh is a Public Health specialist with exuberance to contribute to the potential application of Public Health concepts in alleviating the problems of infectious diseases in Nigeria and Africa. She qualified as a Veterinary doctor (DVM) from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and obtained a Masters degree (MVPH) and a Doctorate in Veterinary Public Health from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. With over 17 years experience in clinical practice, Dr Otuh has contributed immeasurably in the provision of cutting edge service delivery at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Ibadan where she rose to the position of a Senior Veterinary Registrar. She is an invaluable clinician of repute in small animal, wildlife/zoo/exotic species and public health specialities.
Dr Otuh has undergone several professional trainings and participated in public health intervention projects at both national and international levels. She was actively involved in the surveillance of Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza (HPAI) as an epidemiologist and facilitated several capacity-building workshops that contributed to the prevention and control strategies of the pandemic between 2008 and 2011. Dr Otuh also was among the professionals that took part in the assessment of Avian influenza project in Nigeria sponsored by World bank in 2011.
Dr Otuh's passion for contributing to the improvement of the standard of living of the rural populace spurred her interest to explore avenues to make a positive change no matter how meagre. Her research spans on diverse infectious diseases, especially on neglected tropical diseases. She worked extensively for her PhD research on buruli ulcer disease; a debilitating disease afflicting predominantly children of school-going age, depriving them of getting educated while their families suffer huge stigmatization. Her work on buruli ulcer gained credence with publications in reputable journals as well as presentations at both local and international conferences.
Currently, Dr Otuh is part of a One Health collaborative research with the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom and Redeemers University, Nigeria on haemorrhagic fevers where she serves as an epidemiologist. She equally belongs to several multidisciplinary research teams striving to provide practicable positive intervention in solving challenges of infectious diseases of animals and humans, particularly in Africa.
Dr Otuh was recently appointed in the services of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and serves as a Consultant in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the same University. She is a Fellow of the prestigious College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria.