Asoka_Tarry - Keele University
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Research Institute for Social Sciences

Tarry Asoka

Phone: +234-8059122000
Email:
tarry2020@gmail.com
Location: Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Role: Part-time candidate of Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) – Health Planning & Management

Tarry Asoka initially trained as a medical doctor in Nigeria, and worked in various capacities from being a rural doctor to operating an industrial clinic. Through a community-based health project in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, he had the British Chevening scholarship to undertake a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree in Health, Population and Nutrition at Keele University, UK. Following which he worked for the UK Department for International Health (DFID) in Nigeria as Health Adviser, where among several duties he: acted as DFID Nigeria’s authoritative expert and focal point on health issues in relation to overall human development; kept the organisation on the cutting edge of thinking on drivers of change within the sector; supervised the technical soundness of its work and provided specific technical assistance in health financing and private sector engagement; managed a development budget running into several multi-millions pounds annually; and supervised specific health intervention projects geared towards improving the health status of ordinary Nigerians. On leaving DFID, he became an Independent Health Management Consultant and Advisor, who brings diverse skills to assist client organisations in achieving their corporate objectives. These include leadership and communication skills and an ability to relate at all levels of organisational and social contacts.

Title

The Feasibility of Clinical Networks in Nigeria

Summary

Despite repeated calls by World Health Organisation for the adoption of clinical health networks in developing countries, the feasibility of the network model of service delivery in this setting has not been proven. In an attempt to assess feasibility, a study was undertaken in Nigeria to examine existing, ‘naturally-occurring’ forms of collaborative practice in a service area where team-based collaboration is likely – HIV/AIDS. The study, which was carried out on two sites employed documentary research and qualitative techniques to conduct an initial case analysis of each site; followed by a comparative case analysis.

This study has revealed that HIV/AIDS service teams in the two cases in Nigeria exhibit structural and socio-metric characteristics as networks; and provides some evidence to support the fact of collaboration within health service delivery in a resource poor environment. There is work in progress - reflecting on measures used to understand patterns of collaborative practice, and what difference these revealed of the HIV/AIDS teams. Secondly, an attempt is being made to answer the feasibility question as governance systems, which tend to impact heavily on how the network functions as a unit, are factored in.

  • Asoka, T (2012) The Character and Formation of Collaborative Links of HIV/AIDS Clinical Networks in Rivers State, Nigeria 19th Annual Conference on Multi-Organisational Partnerships, Alliances and Networks, 2 – 4 July 2012, Wageningen University
  • Asoka, T (2011) Universal Coverage: Reflections of a missed opportunity in Rivers State, Nigeria.  2nd Conference of Africa Health Economics and Policy Association (AfHEA) Saly, Palm Beach Hotel, Senegal, 15th to 17 March 2011
  • Asoka, T (2012) Wanted: A National Health Insurance Scheme that is fit for purpose. Africa Health (Nigeria Edition), May 2012.