About founder – Gorilla Health

Dr. Jean Felix KINANI Sangwa. DVM, Msc

I founded the One Health Approach for Conservation (OHAC) – Gorilla health in 2015. With a wildlife veterinary background, I did my master course in the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Management (FELTP) under CDC and MoH. I preferred the Laboratory field as I focused more on field sample collection, lab diagnosis on zoonotic diseases during my career.

Prior I was the Head Veterinary responsible for the health of the endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife animals for more than 12 years. Working in DRCongo, Rwanda and Uganda.

I have been interested in conservation medicine for a long time and therefore deeply involved in taking care of the health of the famous mountain gorilla. Along the way through, a collaborative team spirit, I joined my effort to the law enforcement, the community health program, the Employer health program, the dog rabies Vaccination program around national to ensure the survival of our ecosystem.

I successfully completed hundreds of field interventions, necropsies, daily monitoring on mountain gorilla and captive gorilla graeuri, and other non-human primates, including chimpanzees and monkeys.

Biography

Health Emergency Preparedness and Response - Field Epidemiologist

With more than 25 years expertise in Public Health, I worked recently with different organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO/Headquarter) for 5 years in the Prepardeness and Operational Readiness programs. I led the DR Congo EVD Preparedness coordination for more than 2 years and coordinated the training of 87 RRT (30 to 35 experts/ RRT) plus IDSR and PP tool training. Supported the EVD/ SVD outbreak response for Guinea, Mbandaka (DRC)and Uganda. In 2002 i trained 262 experts from 28 identified Cholera affected and/or at risk countries on Cholera OP Response in 8 Africa countries. Provided technical assistance for the deployment of COVID19 vaccines to 91 AMC countries: NDVP uploaded and reviewed through the Partner Platform (PP tool) I worked with CDC Atlanta in 2021 as the Surveillance Technical officer in Mbandaka/ DRC. Worked as well as the National One Health Technical Advisor (NOHTA) for the USAID Preparedness and Response project in 2017. I developed the One Health Strategic Plan and its implementation in Rwanda and in East-Africa. I joined my effort to Operational Readiness, HEPR and animal/ wildlife programs. I am one of the International ''One Health Concept'' trainer for the FAO Virtual Learning Center (VCL).

IMG-20191028-WA0023 Bibliograpyy just after my photo kuri Fpounder

110809- Ihirwe-female mountain gorilla in Kinigi- JFK-10

JFKinani work photo 1061x726. JFKinani @2008

110809- Ihirwe-female mountain gorilla in Kinigi- JFK-19

Mountain Gorilla Doctor

I participated in the mountain gorilla census. I worked for more than 12 years, identifying, provide trainings and selected actual gorilla doctors, laboratory assistant, trackers, gorilla caregivers , and students for different worldwide institutions . I managed the Kinigi quarantine facilities in Rwanda, where we succeeded to take care of the first mountain gorilla out of the park with my colleagues (Maisha). I provided support to different sanctuaries and worked at the Ngamba Island Sanctuary in Uganda (Chimpanzee), Limbe sanctuary in Cameroon (Gorillas) and DRC (Graces sanctuary (Graeuri gorilla) and Rumangabo (mountain gorilla).Plus intervention on jackals, buffalos, to name some in and around Volcanoes National Park. I participated in different field interventions on others species such as on a giraffe in 2009 in the Akagera National Park, on lions , Kobs and Buffalo's in Uganda and performed many intensives health monitoring on different animals species in Nyungwe National Park, the Akagera National Park as well as on the Golden monkeys from the Gishwati forest. I had spent days collecting data information and different samples depending to protocols and study with partners. Works illustrated in different publications found in below

Scientific Publication

In addition, I participated in the Wildlife –human conflict management around the Volcanoes National Park and in the gorilla habitat in Africa. I have been a member of the conservation team within the Virunga conservation transboundary team for years working in DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda.

I did many other consultations work the WCS, USAID EPT 1&2 including the USAID funded OHCEA project in collaboration with the University of Minnesota/ University of Dakar_ EISMV master program on the training of Epidemiology, One Health and Zoonotic diseases (lecturer) And part time lecturer/ Mentor in different other Universities/Institutions.

Research

I am actively involved in One Health implementation process and research. Contribution illustrated in different publications as author and co-author including “Human metapneumovirus infection", "Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus" and "lymphocryptovirus has Epstein -Barr virus- like Epidemiology and pathology in infants" on mountain gorilla, Human herpes simplex virus type 1 found for the first time on captive gorilla. I did many other consultations work the WCS, USAID EPT 1&2 including the USAID funded OHCEA project in collaboration with the University of Minnesota/ University of Dakar_ EISMV master program on the training of Epidemiology, One Health and Zoonotic diseases (lecturer) And part time lecturer/ Mentor in different other Universities/Institutions. I maintained a database on major disease events in the country; Report annually on wildlife diseases occurrence to the World Organization of Animal Health as one of the OIE Focal points for Wildlife, I Contributed to development and improvements of measures to control and/or eradicate livestock and wildlife animal diseases in Africa.

Publications and Citation History

Dr. Jean Felix KINANI Sangwa. DVM, Msc

Biography

Health Emergency Preparedness and Response - Field Epidemiologist

Mountain Gorilla Doctor

Research

Connect with us

Contact Info (RDCongo)

Contact Info (Rwanda)

Useful Links

Ways to Give