I am a health economist based in Cape Town, South Africa, holding a PhD in Public Health with a focus on Health Economics from the University of Cape Town. My extensive research spans socioeconomic inequalities, infectious diseases, cost modelling, health financing, and economic evaluation. I am dedicated to advancing healthcare outcomes through economic analysis and policy influence, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Akim Tafadzwa Lukwa, a Zimbabwean national, is a health economist based in Cape Town, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Public Health focusing on Health Economics from the University of Cape Town, a Master’s in Public Health majoring in Health Economics from the same institution, and a BSc (Honours) in Economics from Midlands State University, Zimbabwe. Akim's professional journey encompasses substantial experience in cost modelling, health financing, and economic evaluation of health interventions. He has contributed to a myriad of research and consultancy projects with notable organizations such as SACEMA, Genesis Analytics, and HE2RO. His technical skills extend to the proficient use of statistical tools including Stata, SPSS, and Microsoft Excel, and he has basic knowledge of R and WHO costing models.
Akim's consultancy experience is extensive. Akim's academic contributions include co-authoring peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He has also served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Cape Town, teaching quantitative methods and health economics, and grading postgraduate diploma classes. His research has been published in several reputable journals, addressing topics such as maternal healthcare, socioeconomic inequalities, and food security. Notable publications include a systematic review of value-based maternal healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa and an analysis of socioeconomic inequalities in child health during COVID-19 in South Africa.
Akim is multilingual, with excellent proficiency in English and Shona, and basic knowledge of Xhosa. He has also participated in numerous professional development programs, enhancing his expertise in health technology assessment, infectious disease modelling, and health financing for universal health coverage. Committed to improving healthcare outcomes through rigorous economic analysis and evidence-based policy recommendations, Akim's work is driven by a passion for health equity and the effective allocation of resources to maximize health benefits.