On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, ICAP presented the Grand Rounds webinar — Using Data to Address Violence Against Children and Youth: Survey Findings from Eswatini. Eswatini is one of few countries globally to have completed two Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS). Following the first VACS in 2007, the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini implemented a coordinated strategy to prevent and mitigate violence in the nation. Presenters from ICAP in Eswatini, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Eswatini, and the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) in Eswatini reported findings from the second VACS conducted in 2022, which assessed experiences of violence among both boys and girls. Presenters discussed how the data is being used to catalyze national action to prevent violence against children.

Presenters

Harriet Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha,

Research Director, ICAP in Eswatini

Harriet Nuwagaba-Biribonwoha is an assistant professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and is the research director for ICAP in Eswatini. She led the second and third Population-based HIV Impact Assessment surveys in Eswatini, as well as the 2022 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey in Eswatini. Biribonwoha is leading surveillance programs that provide real-time visualization of HIV recent infections and COVID-19 infections and is the Eswatini Prevention Centre Clinical Research Site leader, overseeing a portfolio of clinical research on HIV, COVID-19, and HPV/cervical cancer prevention.

Michelle Li,

Epidemiologist and Strategic Information Branch Chief, CDC in Eswatini

Michelle Li serves as the epidemiologist and strategic information branch chief for CDC in Eswatini. She oversees and provides active leadership and strategic direction for all PEPFAR/CDC strategic information activities, primarily focused on surveillance, research capacity, and national population-based survey implementation, in addition to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting across HIV/TB programs. Prior to working with CDC/Eswatini, she held various positions supporting PEPFAR and other global health programs with the U.S. Department of State under the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator as well as with USAID in Zambia. She holds a master’s in public health from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s in science from Duke University.

Mpho Maziya,

Social Welfare Officer, Deputy Prime Minister’s Office in Eswatini

Mpho Maziya is a social welfare officer at the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) in Eswatini. With her clinical psychology background, she has been working in the area of social protection and child protection for over seven years. She is passionate about working with vulnerable groups, evidenced by her role as DMPO team lead for the 2022 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey in Eswatini.