Lwitiko Sikana is a Research Scientist with over a decade of experience in addressing public health challenges, particularly focusing on rabies. Since joining Ifakara Health Institute in July 2021, he has coordinated numerous rabies surveillance activities, including data processing and report preparation for research findings dissemination. He collaborates closely with the Health and Livestock sectors at district and national levels for the implementation of mass dog vaccination and surveillance activities.

Lwitiko holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health Research from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Arusha, Tanzania, in collaboration with the Ifakara Health Institute. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) in Community Development from the University of Iringa (formerly known as Tumaini University Iringa) in Tanzania.

Lwitiko’s journey in scientific research began in 2009 as a Research Assistant for the Afya Serengeti Project. Since then, he has held various roles, including Research Officer, Principal Investigator, and Project Leader, where he coordinated multiple rabies projects funded by prestigious organizations such as the University of Glasgow (Science of Rabies Project), UBS Optimus Foundation (Rabies Surveillance), GARC (Community Against Rabies Exposure - CARE), and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Rabies Elimination Demonstration Project).

Throughout his career, Lwitiko has been actively involved in coordinating rabies surveillance activities, managing project budgets, and collaborating with stakeholders at both district and national levels to implement mass dog vaccination and surveillance activities. Additionally, he has led community engagement workshops, supervised field teams, and published research findings in reputable journals.

Lwitiko’s dedication to addressing public health issues has been recognized through awards such as the travel award from the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) in the USA. Beyond his professional achievements, he is deeply passionate about addressing public health problems in the communities and raising awareness about rabies, especially among vulnerable communities.