Dr. Josephat Shililu

Dr. Josephat Shililu is a senior project manager and entomologist with over 20 years’ experience managing malaria control programs and conducting malaria vectors’ research. He has extensive expertise in project planning and implementation and has contributed to successful and timely implementation of IRS projects in Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Kenya. He has also contributed to Ministries of Health (MOH’s) capacity strengthening efforts in malaria research, environmental compliance procedures, logistics systems, and mobilization campaigns. Dr. Shililu has ensured sound financial management and timely completion of quality project technical and financial deliverables.

As chief of party, Dr. Shililu has set and pursued results-oriented program strategies in coordination with National Malaria Control Programs (NMCPs) and local partners. He has ensured that all country project planning activities, spray operations, technical compliance measures, and other deliverables were achieved in a timely manner. Dr. Shililu has participated in developing capacity- strengthening plans for transferring malaria control knowledge and skills, including IRS, to local institutions. The sound implementation of intervention programing has led to drastic reduction in malaria prevalence in target countries. He has successfully built research capacities of NMCPs and contributed to the knowledge base to guide strategic intervention decisions.

Dr. Shililu has provided technical assistance to malaria control programs in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Liberia, Uganda, Kenya and Angola in entomological surveillance, epidemic preparedness and response. He has successfully managed a number of USAID-funded projects that supported capacity strengthening and operational research. Dr. Shililu has vast research experience, having worked as a research scientist with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) in Kenya for more than 10 years.  There he provided technical leadership to USAID-, NIH-, Global Fund-, and WHO-funded malaria vector research projects. He has published widely, with over 40 publications in peer reviewed journals. For more than 12 years, Dr. Shililu has  trained graduate (BSc) and post graduate students (MSc and Ph.D.), and supervised thesis projects while working as a senior lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.

Expertise

• Project planning and management
• Research and entomological monitoring of malaria vectors
• Capacity strengthening

Key Projects

• An Ecosystem Approach to Human Health: Integrating malaria control interventions with development strategies in Kenya
• Microbial Control of Immature Anopheles Mosquitoes
• Mosquito Larval Control Project in Mwea, Kilifi and Kisii
• Ecological and physiological adaptations of malaria vector species in semi-arid zones in Kenya as a basis for improved implementation of vector control strategies. Vector Biology and Control Project, Ministry of Health/ NMCP, Asmara Eritrea
• Africa Indoor Residual Project PMI VectorLink Project

Publications

• Shililu J, Ghebremeskel T, Seulu F, Mengistu S, Fekadu H, Zerom M, Ghebregziabiher A, Sintasath D, Bretas G, Mbogo C, Githure J, Brantly E, Novak R, Beier JC. J Med Entomol. 2003 Nov; 40(6):921-9. Larval habitat diversity and ecology of anopheline larvae in Eritrea.
• Shililu J, Ghebremeskel T, Mengistu S, Fekadu H, Zerom M, Mbogo C, Githure J, Novak R, Brantly E, Beier JC. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2003 Dec; 69(6):607-13. High seasonal variation in entomologic inoculation rates in Eritrea, a semi-arid region of unstable malaria in Africa.
• Shililu J, Ghebremeskel T, Seulu F, Mengistu S, Fekadu H, Zerom M, Asmelash GE, Sintasath D, Mbogo C, Githure J, Brantly E, Beier JC, Novak RJ. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2004 Jun; 20(2):155-64: Seasonal abundance, vector behavior, and malaria parasite transmission in Eritrea.
• Yewhalaw D, Balkew M, Shililu J, Suleman S, Getachew A, Ashenbo G, Chibsa S, Dissanayake G, George K, Dengela D, Ye-Ebiyo Y, Irish SR. Malar J. 2017 Nov 21; 16 (1):471: Determination of the residual efficacy of carbamate and organophosphate insecticides used for indoor residual spraying for malaria control in Ethiopia.
• Messenger LA, Shililu J, Irish SR, Anshebo GY, Tesfaye AG, Ye-Ebiyo Y, Chibsa S, Dengela D, Dissanayake G, Kebede E, Zemene E, Asale A, Yohannes M, Taffese HS, George K, Fornadel C, Seyoum A, Wirtz RA, Yewhalaw D. Malar J. 2017 Nov 18; 16(1):469: Insecticide resistance in Anopheles arabiensis from Ethiopia (2012-2016): a nationwide study for insecticide resistance monitoring.

Countries Served In

• Angola, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe