Dr. Prosper Chopera

Qualifications:

PhD Nutrition-(Wageningen University and research, The Netherlands) MSc Nutrition and Health (specialisation Public Health Nutrition)-(Wageningen University and research, The Netherlands) BSc Nutrition Science-University of Zimbabwe Post Grad Cert Clinical Nutrition-(Katholiek Universiteit Leuven, Belgium) Post Grad Cert Food Security Monitoring and Evaluation for Impact Assessment -(Wageningen Centre for Development and Innovation, The Netherlands)

Academic Appointments:

Senior Lecturer

Research Interests:

Maternal Infant and young child nutrition
Micronutrients and health
Dietary exposure assessment
Food security and resilience

Faculty: Science

Department: Nutrition Dietetics and Food Sciences

Research Category: Food Science & Technology

Biography:

Email: pchopera@gmail.com

Phone: +263242303211

Publications:

1. Muleya, M., Young, S.D., Reina, S.V., Ligowe, I.S., Broadley, M.R., Joy, E.J., Chopera, P. and Bailey, E.H., (2021). Selenium speciation and bioaccessibility in Se-fertilised crops of dietary importance in Malawi. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 98, p.103841.
2. Chagwena, D. T., Chopera, P., Mushonga, N. G., Nyanga, L. K., & Nyagura, S. (2020). High Prevalence of Suboptimal Child-Feeding Practices and Child Morbidity among Families from Low Socio-Economic Urban Areas in Harare. Journal of Health Science, 8, 75-82.
3. Matsungo, T. M., & Chopera, P. (2020). Effect of the COVID-19-induced lockdown on nutrition, health and lifestyle patterns among adults in Zimbabwe. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, 3(2), 205.
4. Mathew, M. T., & Prosper, C. (2020). Nutrition in contemporary Zimbabwe: a situational analysis. The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 4(3), 25-35.
5. Chigova, M., & Chopera, P. (2020). Prevalence of Type 1 Diabetes and Presence of Optimal Support Services in Public Schools a Case Study of Gweru, Zimbabwe. Int J Diabetes Clin Res, 7, 125.
6. Matsungo, T. M., Chopera, P., Tsikayi, P., Benhura, C., & Mushonga, N. G. T. (2019). Nutritional status and lifestyle characteristics of adults aged 15-49 years living in Harare, Zimbabwe. Cent Afr J Med, 65(1/3), 10-14.
7. Kujinga, P., Galetti, V., Onyango, E., Jakab, V., Buerkli, S., Andang’o, P., ... & Moretti, D. (2018). Effectiveness of zinc-fortified water on zinc intake, status and morbidity in Kenyan pre-school children: a randomised controlled trial. Public health nutrition, 21(15), 2855-2865.
8. Chopera, P. (2018). Examining Fast Food Consumption Habits and Perceptions of University of Zimbabwe Students. International Journal of Science & Healthcare Research. 2018; 3(1): 1-6
9. Tsikayi P, Chopera P, Benhura. C (2018).Assessment of the level of iodine fortificant in iodised salt from different salt brands. Journal Science Southern Africa. ; 24 (1)
10. Kujinga, P., Borgonjen‐van den Berg, K. J., Superchi, C., Ten Hove, H. J., Onyango, E. O., Andang'o, P., ... & Brouwer, I. D. (2018). Combining food‐based dietary recommendations using Optifood with zinc‐fortified water potentially improves nutrient adequacy among 4‐to 6‐year‐old children in Kisumu West district, Kenya. Maternal & child nutrition, 14(2), e12515.
11. Galetti, V., Mitchikpè, C. E. S., Kujinga, P., Tossou, F., Hounhouigan, D. J., Zimmermann, M. B., & Moretti, D. (2016). Rural Beninese children are at risk of zinc deficiency according to stunting prevalence and plasma zinc concentration but not dietary zinc intakes. The Journal of nutrition, 146(1), 114-123.
12. Kujinga-Chopera, P. (2016). Effectiveness of zinc fortified drinking water on zinc intake, status and morbidity of rural Kenyan pre-school children (Doctoral dissertation, Wageningen University).

13. Galetti, V., Kujinga, P., Mitchikpe, C. E. S., Zeder, C., Tay, F., Tossou, F., ... & Moretti, D. (2015). Efficacy of highly bioavailable zinc from fortified water: a randomized controlled trial in rural Beninese children. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 102(5), 1238-1248.
14. Chopera, P., Chagwena, D. T., & Mushonga, N. G. T. (2014). Food label reading and understanding in parts of rural and urban Zimbabwe. African health sciences, 14(3), 576-584.
15. Mushonga, N. G. T., Kujinga, P., Chagwena, D. T., Chituwu, R., & Nyabanga, G. (2014). A restrospective study of the nutritional status of primary school children in Harare. African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 14(3).
16. P Chopera, SG Mbambo and TM Matsungo. Relationships of Depression and Anxiety to Readmission Rates Among Patients with Diabetes from Harare and Parirenyatwa referral hospitals in Zimbabwe. African Health Sciences. In Press
17. Manzeke-Kangara MG, Joy EJM, Mtambanengwe F, Chopera P, Watts MJ, Broadley MR, Mapfumo P. Good soil management can reduce dietary zinc deficiency in Zimbabwe. CABI Agriculture and BioScience. In Press
18. Prosper Chopera; Praise Rudaviro Zimunya; Felistas Mugariri; Tonderayi M Matsungo. Facilitators and barriers to the consumption of traditional foods among adults in Zimbabwe. Journal of Ethnic Foods. In press

Patented Work:

Grants & Funding (current and Past projects):

1.Translating GeoNutrition (TGN): Reducing mineral micronutrient deficiency in Zimbabwe- University of Nottingham-(GCRF GRTA grant)

2.Future Grains for Africa programme- Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Science and Technology Development grant

3.Upscaling edible insect-based porridge to improve health and nutritional status of Primary School children in Zimbabwean low socio-economic communities (BBSRC grant)

4.Effects of processing and storage on provitamin a carotenoids and other micronutrients in provitamin a orange maize products Zimbabwe- Harvest Plus grant

5.Clinical Nutrition-MOOC Massive Open Online Course- Katholiek Universiteit Leuven, Belgium grant

Awards & Achievements:

1. Awarded the Netherlands Organisation For International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) in 2008 for studying MSc Nutrition in Wageningen University Netherlands.
2. Awarded again Netherlands Organisation For International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) in 2011 for studying PhD Nutrition in Wageningen University Netherlands.
3. JUDITH ZWART FOUNDATION AWARD 2015
4. SIGHT AND LIFE 2014
5. NUFFIC award for attending The 15th African Nutrition Leadership Programme 2017
6. VLIR-UORS award to study Clinical Nutrition at Katholic University Leuven, Belgium.
7. Award for Best Emerging Scientist under Science research category-UZ Research Week 2017
8. Founding Editor of the newlsetter The Nutritionist (http://zimna.org.zw/zimna-downloads/category/2-newsletters.html

Consultancy and advisory work (current and past):

1. Review of the Multisectoral community based model for food and nutrition security in Zimbabwe-Food and Nutrition Council
2. WFP Episodes Study Consultancy- WFP Southern Africa Regional Bureau
3. Collating and Coordinating Divergent Sector Input Towards Finalisation of the Multisectoral Food and Security Strategy (MFNSS) 2021-2025- Food and Nutrition Council

Supervision information (MPhil, DPhil, etc.):

Post Doc Mentor of 1 IMMANA fellow
DPhil student supervision-4 candidates
DPhil examiner-2 candidates
MPhil supervision-4 candidates
BSc Honours supervision-35 students

Professional membership, Committees, Boards:

Committees
1. Faculty of Science Champion - UZ Strategic Framework
2. Faculty of Science Representative to the Committee on Academic Ceremony (COAC)
3. Faculty of Science Representative-UZ Research Week Committee
4. Research Week Committee-Quality Control Subcommittee
5. Faculty of Science Representative to the Committee on Safety Health and Wellness
6. Faculty of Science Representative to the Multi-Cultural Committee in the Faculty of Arts

Professional Membership
1. Allied Health Professions Council Zimbabwe (AHPCZ) (Editorial Board)
2. Zimbabwe Nutrition Association
3. African Nutrition Leadership Programme Alumni 2017
4. Hyperinsulinism International
5. Zimbabwe Diabetes Association