Dr. Martin Ikechukwu Njoku

MBBS, MPH • Senior Programme Manager, RedAid Nigeria
[email protected]
DR. MARTIN NJOKU

Professional Associations

  • Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)
  • Medical and Dental Consultants' Association
  • International Leprosy Association (ILA)
  • Nigerian Society for NTDs

Works with

  • Stop TB Partnership / UNOPS
  • DAHW German Relief Association
  • St. Benedict's Rehabilitation Centre, Ogoja
  • National TB & Leprosy Programme (NTBLCP)

My Teams & Managed Portfolios

RAN NTD & TB Project: Strengthened Disease Control TB REACH Wave-10: Person-Centered TB & Mental Health Hospital-Based NTD Surgical Rehabilitation Network

Professional Background

Over 15 years in clinical medicine, surgical rehabilitation, disease control, and implementation research.

Dr. Martin Ikechukwu Njoku is a medical doctor and public health professional with more than fifteen years of comprehensive experience in clinical medicine, infectious disease control, program leadership, and operational research.

His work centers on tuberculosis, leprosy, Buruli ulcer, and other skin neglected tropical diseases, alongside pioneering systemic integration of mental health screening and care into DOTS and NTD clinic workflows. As Senior Programme Manager at RedAid Nigeria, Dr. Njoku leads donor-funded multi-state interventions. He currently leads the multi-year program dedicated to strengthening community resilience in Southern Nigeria through improved NTD and TB control. Previously, he served as Project Lead for the Stop TB Partnership's TB REACH Wave 10 grant, which expanded access to dignified, person-centered TB and mental health services across vulnerable urban and rural populations.

From 2009 to 2022, Dr. Njoku served as Medical Officer and subsequently Medical Director of St. Benedict's Tuberculosis and Leprosy Rehabilitation Centre in Ogoja, Cross River State, a regional referral institution with 100 beds. During his tenure, he personally performed reconstructive and rehabilitative surgeries for more than 200 Buruli ulcer patients and over 200 leprosy patients. Beyond surgical suites, he led rural mobile outreach clinics, organized large-scale skin screening camps, and supervised frontline health staff across multiple states.

Publications & Open Educational Resources (OER)

Peer-reviewed clinical manuscripts, surgical outcomes, and implementation science papers.

Article

Integrated Tuberculosis and Mental Health Screening in Primary Healthcare Facilities in Southern Nigeria

Njoku, M. I., et al. / Plos One / 2024
TB & Mental Health View Article
Article

Rehabilitative Surgery and Wound Healing Outcomes Among 200 Hospitalized Buruli Ulcer Patients in Ogoja

Njoku, M. I., et al. / Plos Neglected Tropical Diseases / 2023
Buruli Ulcer View Article
Article

Decentralized Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Clinical Management in Conflict-Affected Rural Settings

Njoku, M. I., et al. / Frontiers in Public Health / 2023
MDR-TB Care View Article
Article

Two-Way Screening and Task-Shifting for Common Mental Disorders in DOTS Clinics

Njoku, M. I., et al. / Global Health: Science and Practice / 2024
Task-Shifting Request Paper
Protocol

Clinical Protocol: Reconstructive Surgery and Disability Prevention for Leprosy Complications

St. Benedict's Clinical Staff and RedAid Nigeria Training Series / 2023
Surgery & Rehab Request Manual

Managed Programs & Grants

Oversight of multi-state infectious disease grants, clinical teams, and referral centers.

RAN Project: Resilience of Southern Communities (NTDs/TB)

Directing multi-state health interventions reinforcing clinical quality, active case finding, surgical reconstruction, and laboratory specimen logistics across Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and surrounding states.

TB REACH Wave-10 Mental Health Integration

Pioneered systemic task-shifting to train general nurses and community health extension workers (CHEWs) to conduct PHQ-9 depression screening and psychological support in TB clinics.

Professional Capabilities

Core Areas of Expertise

(Step-by-step)

Reconstructive & Deformity Surgery

Tendon transfer procedures, ulcer debridement, lagophthalmos correction, and physical restoration for persons affected by leprosy.

  • Complex tendon transfers for claw hand and drop foot corrections.
  • Surgical ulcer debridement, skin grafting, and soft-tissue preservation.
  • Lagophthalmos eyelid reconstruction to prevent blindness in leprosy patients.
  • Post-operative physical therapy protocols and mobility restoration.

Clinical Hospital Governance

Directing inpatient medical facilities, surgical theater protocols, infection prevention, and multidisciplinary care standards.

  • Strategic direction of specialized leprosy and tuberculosis referral hospitals.
  • Surgical theater safety standards, sterile protocol compliance, and clinical audits.
  • Infection prevention and control (IPC) leadership across inpatient wards.
  • Multidisciplinary clinical team coordination and emergency response management.

Tuberculosis & Buruli Ulcer Management

Inpatient drug-resistant TB regimen adherence, specialized tissue care, and decentralized referral hospital linkages.

  • Inpatient drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) clinical oversight and adverse reaction triage.
  • Advanced wound management for extensive Buruli ulcer lesions.
  • Integrated diagnostic triage connecting clinical teams with digital X-ray and GeneXpert.
  • Decentralized referral pathways between primary health posts and surgical centers.

Surgical Mentorship & Training

Training resident medical officers, nurses, and clinical assistants in specialized reconstructive techniques and wound care.

  • Hands-on surgical fellowships for resident medical officers and junior surgeons.
  • Clinical training in specialized neuropathic foot care and custom orthotics.
  • Nursing staff development in sterile wound dressing and ulcer prevention.
  • Regional surgical capacity building across Southeast and South-South health facilities.

Affiliations & Professional Network

Academic partnerships, clinical societies, and health authority registrations.

Dr. Martin Njoku is fully licensed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and collaborates with international research consortia, the Federal Ministry of Health, and partner mission health facilities in Southeastern and South-South Nigeria.

Contact & Collaboration Inquiries

For clinical inquiries, implementation research collaborations, or technical consultations:

Send email inquiry