The International Day of Women and Girls in Science which falls on 11 February each year was highly celebrated at MLW this year. To Mark the celebration, women in science were featured in the February series of Umoyo N’kukambirana Radio Programme They also appeared on Home Managers, Women in The Fall and Breakfast Live Shows at Times Television.
In the same spirit, Hendrina Nkuta had a chat with five phenomenal ladies who are making strides, discoveries, and great advancements in the science arena.
Elizabeth Chimbayo, PhD student
Elizabeth Chimbayo: I vowed to be a scientist and provide health solutions to Malawians.
“My sister was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. As she grew, it became obvious that something was not alright. She was diagnosed with a disease which required frequent blood transfusion. This was very difficult at the time because medical professionals were not enough in Malawi, talk less of Mchinji (where I grew up)” Eliza narrated during a chat we had on 15th February after lunch.
She said she watched her sister suffer and it was unbearable and heart-breaking to see her go through so much pain. She vowed to be a scientist and provide health solutions to Malawians.
Chimbayo said she gave up laziness and worked hard in school towards the fulfilment of her vows.
“I am optimistic to discover more solutions through my current project ‘Focusing on the impact of T Cell responses and how those influences individuals susceptibility to developing Tuberculosis’
Chimbayo has a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Laboratory from KUHES, she won a Beit Scholarship which enabled her to study a Master of Science in Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases at Glasgow University and was also awarded a PhD studentship which she is expected to complete this year.
“MLW has created a conducive environment for my career. I have amazing support from my team, peers, and my supervisor Professor Henry Mwandumba.
Priyanka Patel, Lead Study Clinician for TYVAC and MITIMA
Patel: It is fulfilling to a lead clinician for such impactful research.
Priyanka joined MLW in February 2018 and is the lead clinician for a phase 3 vaccine trial of 28,000 children that led to important ground-breaking results which have informed policy in Malawi. The four-year efficacy results of the TyVAC study are a monumental achievement that will impact millions of lives both nationally and globally.
“It is fulfilling to a lead clinician for such impactful research,” Priya commented.
She also leads another important phase 4 study which is measuring the effectiveness and impact of the Typhoid conjugate vaccine.
In highlighting some of her notable milestones, Priyanka outlined that she published as first author in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), won best presenter in a 3 minute speed talk during the 25th anniversary 2022, was first runner-up for oral presentation at the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians Conference 2022, and was awarded a fellowship to attend the International Vaccine Institute vaccinology course in Seoul in 2022. Patel is also set to attend the prestigious Gordon Research Conference 2023 after securing a Carl Storm International Diversity Award.Top of Form
Rhitta Chadza, Research Governance Administrator
Chadza: Addressing underlying factors of health can make a difference in the world.
Rhitta Chadza is a Research Governance Administrator under the Clinical Research Support Unit, with 9 years of experience in Clinical Research and 4 years in Research Governance. She is a Public Health graduate and a qualified Clinical Research Associate with a background in nursing.
As a research governor, some of her roles include ensuring ethical conduct of clinical trials by ensuring compliance with ethical guidelines & principles such as the Declaration of Helsinki, The International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) Good Clinical Practice (GCP), protecting human subjects by ensuring safety of participants in clinical trials and ensuring that their rights are protected.
The scientist and mother of 2 believes that by addressing underlying factors which impact the health of communities, she can make a real difference in improving the lives of people around the world.
Maureen Ndalama, EFGH Study Coordinator
Ndalama: I love that being a researcher helps me to make a difference in society.
“Science is like a puzzle; I enjoy the satisfaction I get when all the pieces of the puzzle fit together” said Ndalama.
“I also love that being a researcher helps me to make a difference in society- who doesn’t want that?” she continued in a laugh. “Health science and research saves lives and improves people’s health.”
In 2019 she was amongst 27 students out of more than 650 competitive applicants from across Africa to be awarded a Centre for Innovative Drug Development and Therapeutic Trials for Africa (CDT-Africa) scholarship funded by World Bank to pursue a Master of Science in Clinical Trials at Addis Abba University.
In her free time, Ndalama likes to bake.
Tadala Mzengo, Medical Microbiologist
Mzengo: Aspires to become an antimicrobial resistance policymaker and influencer.
Statistics indicate that there are few women in medical microbiologists in Malawi. Tadala Mzengo is one of the females who challenged gender stereotypes and stepped into this science career. Tadala graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Microbiology from The Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) in 2022. She is now a Pre-Masters intern at MLW working on her research ‘The Prevalence of Multi-drug resistance bacteria isolated from surgical ward surfaces at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital’
When asked about her future goals, Mzengo said she would like to become an Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR) policymaker and influencer.
“A quote that inspires me all the time is one by Maya Angelou”, Tadala said- “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”.
Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science to all women in science at MLW!
