AHILA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2025 -2027
Mr Khutsafalo Kadimo
(President - University of Botswana)
Is a well-experienced agriculture librarian (2009 – 2013) and medical and research support librarian (2013 – present) at the University of Botswana (UB), who is reading for a PhD at the University of Botswana. Mr Kadimo is the Medical Library Association (USA) Cunningham Memorial International Fellow—2023, an author, researcher, and reviewer. He is an alternate member of the UB Biomedical Institutional Review Board and a representative for the World Health Organization|Research4Life
Group B (developing countries), President of the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) and a member of the Network of African Medical Librarians (NAML), secretary for the Botswana Library
Consortium, EIFL Copyright Coordinator and Open Access Coordinator, and a member of the Botswana Library Association (BLA).
Dr. Biliamin O. Popoola
(President-Elect - University of Medical Sciences, Nigeria)
Biliamin is the Systems, Scholarly Communications, and Evidence-Based Medicine Librarian at the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Ilorin Nigeria, an alumnus of the Carnegie Next-Generation Librarians Fellowship Programme at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and a recipient of the Cunningham International Fellowship by the Medical Library Association, U.S.A. As a librarian, researcher and knowledge management expert, Biliamin serves on various local and international initiatives. He is widely published and serves as a reviewer and editor for learned journals in Librarianship.
Dr. Violet Ikolo
(Vice President 1 - Delta State University, Nigeria)
Medical Library, College of Health Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka. A Deputy University Librarian, Violet has a strong commitment to supporting and delivering effective information services to meet the research needs of users at the CHS Medical Library. She specializes in rendering research support and selective dissemination services to staff members and researchers of the College. In addition, she is a cataloguer, a classifier, an instructor of library information resources uses, a library administrator and a researcher whose areas of interest include, health librarianship, library management, information literacy and library users satisfaction. She is a certified medical librarian in Nigeria and a certified librarian in Nigria
ORCID: 0000-0002-8103-6827
Patricia Makwambeni
(Secretary-General - University of Cape Town, South Africa)
A Senior Librarian at the Bongani Mayosi Health Sciences Library (BMHSL). She holds a PhD in Information Systems. She is actively involved in assisting with systematic reviews, bibliometrics and research data management at BMHSL. She is a former data curator for UCT Libraries’ open data repository Zivahub, which is powered by Figshare for institutions. Patricia has a passion for disseminating scholarly research outputs and data. This passion stems from her background as both a Librarian and a researcher. Patricia serves as subject librarian for the following divisions: Cardiology| Cardiothoracic| Lipidology| Evidence Based Health Care Programme| Occupational Therapy |Physiotherapy | Communication and Disabilities Studies| Dermatology| Division of Health & Rehab Services. She is also the Chair for the South Africa Health Librarians Forum (SAHLF).
Wongani Jumbo
(Assistant Secretary-General – University of North Carolina (UNC) Project – Malawi )
Medical Librarian at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Project – Malawi. He has experience in health information management, evidence-based research support, and strengthening access to medical knowledge within healthcare settings. He has contributed to capacity-building initiatives, supported clinical and academic teams with literature searches and research assistance and advocated for the integration of quality information services in health institutions. Passionate about global health and knowledge dissemination, Wongani is committed to improving healthcare outcomes through enhanced access to reliable medical information. Wongani holds a BSc in ICT, a Diploma in Computing and a Certificate in Library and Information Science.
Marja Wren-Sargent
Treasurer I - University of Cape Town, South Africa
Marja works at the Bongani Mayosi Health Sciences Library at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Her professional interests include Open Access publishing and supporting medical students and staff through training in scholarly and research capabilities.
Alvina Matthee
(Treasurer II - Stellenbosch University, South Africa)
Alvina works at the Medicine and Health Sciences Library, Stellenbosch University Library and Information Services, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
Rajabu Simba
(Web Content Editor - University of Dodoma)
Tanzanian researcher and digital health professional specializing in health informatics, artificial intelligence, electronic health systems, and digital health innovation. Rajabu has also developed practical AI-enabled health solutions, including the AI Mental Health Counselor, AI Helicobacter pylori Chatbot, and AI Diet Solution, demonstrating his interest in applying emerging technologies to address real-world healthcare challenges and improve access to health information and services.
He currently serves as a Research Coordinator and ICT Officer (ICTO) for the SAFARI Project — Study of AI-Facilitated Ultrasound Feasibility & Assessment of Resources & Integration, implemented under the University of Dodoma (UDOM) with funding from the Gates Foundation. In this role, he contributes to research coordination, digital systems management, data-related activities, and the integration of AI-supported ultrasound technologies within healthcare settings.
Emma M Ndalameta-Theo
(Council Member - University of Zambia)
Is an Academic Librarian at the University of Zambia - Ridgeway Campus Library. She is a holder of a Bachelor of Arts with Library and Information Studies Degree (BALIS) from University of Zambia and a Masters of Philosophy in Information and Knowledge Management Degree (MPhil IKM) from Stellenbosch University. She is a council member of the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) Executive Committee. Emma is also a Zambia Better Evidence for Training Champion, she is focused on promoting uptake and use of UpToDate - a clinical decision support tool.
Her interests are in the various aspects of knowledge dissemination for health care students and professionals. She continues to build her skill set in aspects of evidence-based health information with special focus on conducting systematic reviews. Emma is passionate about provision of information literacy sessions to students enrolled in health related courses at the university of Zambia. She is also particularly interested in pursuing research collaborations that are on knowledge management aspects as well as research initiatives using an academic library practices lens to examine the implementation of AI systems and Data governance herein.
Matildah Mercy Muchinga
(Communications Manager - Lusaka Apex Medical University, Zambia)
Is an Academic Librarian at the University of Zambia (UNZA), where she is responsible for Marketing and Reference Services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Library and Information Science (BALIS) and a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of Zambia. Prior to joining UNZA in 2026, she served as a Medical Librarian at the Lusaka Apex Medical University (LAMU) Library for seven years, providing health information services, research support, and information literacy training.
She currently serves as Communications Manager for the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) (2025–2027) and Media and Publicity Secretary of the Library and Information Association of Zambia (LIAZ) (2023–2027). She has also chaired the Communications and Publicity Sub-Committees for the ETD 2024 Conference, the AHILA 2025 Congress, and the XXVII SCECSAL 2026 Conference.
A 2020 Fellow of the Young African Library Leaders Fellowship (YALLF), Matildah is an active researcher whose interests include health information, digital marketing for libraries, open science, scholarly communication, institutional repositories, research visibility, and the application of emerging technologies in library and information services. She is passionate about championing inclusive library services for people with special needs and leveraging digital innovations to improve equitable access to information and enhance the impact of libraries across Africa.
Oluwaseun Abiodun-Asanre
(Council Member - Lagos State University, Nigeria)
Is a System Librarian at Lagos State University Library, Nigeria, where she leads the provision and management of digital information resources and services. She also serves as a Better Evidence Champion and lectures at the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies, Lagos State University. Her research interests include research data management, evidence-based health information for underserved populations, tacit knowledge transfer, the impact of libraries on institutional Webometrics rankings, capacity building for librarians, and human–computer interaction. Oluwaseun is highly experienced in facilitating online training through Google Meet and Zoom, conducting evidence-based literature searches and systematic reviews, and delivering information literacy instruction. She supports information evaluation and electronic resource use at Lagos State University and contributes to the development of library and information science course materials. She is recognized for her collaborative approach, leadership, and commitment to excellence in meeting professional and academic goals.
Glorias Assimwe
(Council Member - Busitema University, Uganda)
Is the Head Medical Librarian working at Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences in Eastern Uganda. In AHILA, Glorias serves as the executive council member as well as the interim president for AHILA, the Uganda chapter. She holds a Master’s Degree in Information Sciences and Bachelor’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Makerere University, Uganda. Glorias’ research interests are health information management, data science, information retrieval, and information literacy.
Keamogetse Kegasitswe
(Council Member - University of Botswana)
Is an information professional with a Master’s in Archives and Records Management and an Executive Master of Entrepreneurship. She specializes in academic library services, research support, digital scholarship, and evidence-based information delivery. Keamogetse is a Librarian who works closely with students, clinicians, and faculty to enhance research productivity through literature searches, data management, reference management, and access to digital resources. She is actively engaged in professional development, open science initiatives, and national and international knowledge-sharing platforms. Her work reflects a strong commitment to innovation, service excellence, and empowering academic communities.
Mercy Wamunyima Monde
(Ex-Officio - University of Zambia)
Mercy is the Immediate Past President of the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) and a PhD candidate in Information Science at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, USA. She is an experienced health sciences librarian with over seven years of professional experience in academic and medical librarianship. Prior to commencing her doctoral studies, she served as Head of the Medical Library at the University of Zambia, where she led initiatives to strengthen access to evidence-based health information, library services, and research support for healthcare professionals, faculty, and students.
Mercy's research interests include consumer health information, digital health, artificial intelligence, health information behavior, and the role of libraries in improving equitable access to quality health information in Africa. She is committed to advancing evidence-based librarianship, strengthening health information systems, and fostering regional and international collaborations to improve access to reliable information.
In recognition of her contributions to the profession, Mercy has received several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the 2021 Medical Library Association's Cunningham Memorial International Fellowship and the Bibliometric and Research Impact Summer School 2023 scholarship award, among others.