Ms. Evelyn Acquah is a Population and Health Scientist with a specialized focus on social inequalities in health. Currently serving as a Research Fellow in the Centre for Health Policy and Implementation Research at the University of Health and Allied Sciences, she is dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation through rigorous research and collaborative efforts, particularly in the realm of Adolescent Health and Development.

Her academic and professional training has equipped her with a robust foundation in implementation research, with a strong commitment to enhancing the uptake of new health interventions among adolescents in resource-limited environments, while also addressing issues of gender intersectionality. Her research interests are diverse and encompass several critical areas, including:

• Adolescent health and development
• Gender and women’s health
• Implementation research
• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
• Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)

Ms. Acquah possesses extensive experience working with diverse communities to understand the dynamics of health systems and the uptake of health interventions. Notably, she collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of scientists on a Health Utilization Study funded by PATH, aimed at documenting the contextual complexities surrounding the implementation of the RTS,S vaccine in Ghana at both health system and community levels.

Currently, Ms. Acquah is engaged in several high-impact research projects, including her involvement in the EDCTP-funded SAVING Consortium. This initiative focuses on strengthening individual and institutional capacities to identify and address implementation challenges, mitigate barriers to the scale-up of new medical interventions, and achieve Universal Health Coverage in Ghana. Additionally, she is also a Co-Principal Investigator for the WHO/ALLIANCE MAINSTREAM Pilot Study, which seeks to identify and prioritize key implementation barriers within in-country immunization programs. This project aims to leverage these challenges to formulate priority research questions for funding opportunities directed at local research teams, while also providing technical mentorship in implementation research.

Ms. Acquah has made significant contributions to the academic community, authoring approximately 30 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Her work reflects her commitment to enhancing health outcomes and addressing disparities within vulnerable populations.

In addition to her research endeavors, Ms. Acquah is an active member of the steering committee for the Improving Community Health Outcomes through Research, Dialogue, and Systems Strengthening (iCHORDS) Community of Practice, where she collaborates with peers to foster dialogue and strengthen health systems.