Mirjam I. Bakker

Mirjam I Bakker Ph.D. joined KIT in 2000 and coordinates the epidemiologists working at KIT’s health unit. This is also where she applies her extensive experience in the use of geographic information systems (GIS) to inform health system decision making.

Mirjam monitors and evaluates a broad range of health interventions and works on tailoring control strategies for infectious diseases. She is involved in the external monitoring and evaluation of the TB REACH initiative of the Stop TB Partnership since 2010. In addition, she supervises KIT’s M.Sc. and Ph.D. students and developed the KIT course “Using GIS in disease control programmes.”

In terms of disease areas, Mirjam has expertise in tuberculosis, HIV and leprosy care and prevention, backed up with extensive field experience in developing countries.

Prior to joining KIT, Mirjam worked as a nutrition consultant in Ghana and as TB/HIV field research coordinator in Malawi on behalf of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She holds an MSc in human nutrition and epidemiology from Wageningen University and obtained her PhD at the University of Amsterdam, focusing on the epidemiology of leprosy in Indonesia.

Description of the epidemiology group’s work

The work of the KIT epidemiology group is focused on strengthening public health activities and disease control programs. Combining expertise in epidemiology, environmental sciences, health information management and geographical information systems (GIS), the group conducts research, provides advisory- and M&E services and develops and offers tailor-made training programmes. The group supports training and implementation of evidence-based health care and policy development.