Abiyu Abadi Tareke

Thesis title

The impact of climate change on human health in Kyrgyzstan

Description of PhD Project

Climate change is an increasing concern for human health, particularly in vulnerable regions like Central Asia. In Kyrgyzstan, rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and an increase in extreme weather events are influencing the incidence and spread of climate-sensitive health outcomes.

This PhD project investigates how climate change affects human health in Kyrgyzstan by integrating epidemiological data, geospatial analysis, and climate modelling. The study aims to identify high-risk populations and geographic hotspots to inform adaptive health strategies. The research will contribute to evidence-based policymaking and support the development of resilient health systems possessing the ability to respond to the emerging impacts of climate change.

Supervisors

Associate Professor Angus Campbell (Principal supervisor)

Dr Melanie Bannister-Tyrrell (co-supervisor)

Biography

Abiyu Abadi Tareke is a public health professional with expertise in immunization, infectious disease surveillance, and health data analytics. He has led and supported large-scale public health programs in Ethiopia, including routine and COVID-19 vaccination rollouts, monitoring and evaluation systems and humanitarian health interventions. His fieldwork includes providing technical assistance to the governmental health system and NGOs, conducting third-party monitoring for the World Food Program, and conducting applied malaria research among migrant populations for PATH Ethiopia.

Abiyu holds an MPH in Health Informatics from the University of Gondar in Ethiopia. His research focuses on spatial epidemiology, maternal and child health, vaccine coverage, and health equity. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, applying advanced statistical and geospatial methods including GWR, multilevel analyses and other advanced statistical models. His current research interests include one health, health system resilience, and social determinants of health.

He is a researcher specializing in the area of the impact of climate change on human health. He is currently based in Australia and affiliated with the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne.

Funding/scholarships

Melbourne research scholarship