Page 4 - Science in Africa

sther Mwaikambo of the Professor Esther Mwaikambo
Hubert Kairuki
Memorial University is a
senior pediatrician and a
professor of paediatrics A woman
Eand child health in
Tanzania.
Her career spans medical education,
basic science research – especially on
cerebral malaria – and national policy of many
development in areas of science,
health (with special reference to
maternal and child health), hospital
administration and management and
she became the first female medical FIRSTS
management of training and higher
education in the field of medicine
and health sciences.
Professor Mwaikambo is a woman
of many firsts in Tanzania. In 1969,

doctor in that country, and, in 1992,
the first Tanzanian female medical
professor.
She is the recipient of many
awards, including the 2013 Martin
Luther King Jr Drum Major for
Justice Award and the 2009 Harvard
Distinguished African Lecturer
Award.
Professor Mwaikambo is well
published as a researcher. She carries
with her a long-standing concern on
health worker/patient relationships,
the ethics and conduct of health
personnel, promotion of human
rights in the delivery of services,
quality health service delivery,
administration and management of
health services, issues of
confidentiality and good clinical
practice.
Among several policy-related
positions held are: vice-chancellor of
the Hubert Kairuki Memorial
University; chairperson of the
National Examination Council of
Tanzania; president of the Tanzania
Academy of Sciences; chairperson of
research on poverty alleviation;
chairperson of the governing council
at the Tumaini University Makumira
in Tanzania and chairperson of the
National Commission on Polio
Eradication.
She has also held the positions of
vice-chairperson of the Tanzania
Commission for Science and
Technology; vice-chairperson of the
governing council of Sokoine
University of Agriculture; founder
and president of the Medical Women
Association of Tanzania; president of
the Tanzania Public Health
Association and a board member and
treasurer for Forum for African
Women Educationalists.
She has been a member of several
university councils and senates, and
of other organisations, especially
those of education and health.
4 SCIENCE IN AFRICA