Tag: African Women

Member Profile

Meet Cecilia Wangari: molecular diagnostics/environmental health

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Snapshot of my continuing academic journey as a molecular diagnostics and environmental health professional. I am a PhD student passionate about developing molecular tools to improve health outcomes in vulnerable communities. My research focuses on detecting Schistosoma parasites in freshwater ecosystems using environmental DNA (eDNA) and Plasmodium in household trapped mosquitoes. These innovations aim to shift disease monitoring from a purely patient-centered approach to identifying where transmission occurs in the environment.

For diseases like schistosomiasis and malaria, screening people alone doesn’t tell us where they are contracting the diseases or where the risks lie. That’s why in our ATRAP (Action Towards Reducing Aquatic snail-borne Parasitic diseases) project , we focus on a transdisciplinary approach, understanding the interaction between the environment, people, and disease agents to contribute effectively to controlling or even eliminating vector-borne diseases.

My journey to this field has been both challenging and fulfilling. I have always wanted to contribute to improving community health. Initially, I hoped to study epidemiology but lacked the relevant experience. However, I didn’t give up. Instead, I pursued a Master’s in Sustainable Development at KU Leuven , supported by a VLIR-UOS scholarship. During my Master’s, I had the opportunity to work on female genital schistosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo under the supervision of Dr. Tine Huyse. This experience was especially meaningful to me as a woman, addressing health challenges often neglected in women’s lives.

It hasn’t always been easy. In Africa, gender bias in science generally remains a significant barrier. When I first enrolled for an MSc program at Kenyatta University, I was the only woman in a class of five men. While I worked hard not to feel different, I wished there were other women with me. I’m glad this is changing, and I hope to inspire more women to pursue careers in science. Coming from a humble background, I know firsthand the power of perseverance and faith. I want to be a beacon of hope for young girls everywhere, showing them that their dreams are valid. Let no one stop you from achieving your goals. Dare to be different when needed, work smart, and trust in God to guide your path.

I feel incredibly blessed for the opportunities and recognition I’ve received. In 2021, I was honored with the MTAWA Outstanding Graduate Award. When I attended my first international conference, the European Multicolloquium of Parasitology (EMOP), I was humbled to receive three awards: Young Scientist Award, Audience Award and FAWPAR Award for the best oral presentation. It was an incredible and deeply affirming moment, reminding me that our work matters and makes a difference.

I am deeply grateful for the mentors and supporters who have been an integral part of my journey. I am especially blessed to have my husband and my mothers, who step into my motherhood role when I am unable to, and my family, whose unwavering belief in me fuels my determination. My son inspires me every day, his presence motivates me to work even harder, knowing that the example I set today shapes his future. Our work is not just about advancing science; it’s about creating tangible change in communities burdened by diseases like schistosomiasis and malaria. My story is a testament to the fact that with resilience, purpose, and a strong belief in yourself, anything is possible.

Cecilia Wangari Wambui

Opinion

African Women Can Compete on Competence

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By Abigail A. Ekeigwe

Competence, in my understanding, opinion and words, means the aggregation of knowledge and skills, some hard, some soft, that make one capable of effective performance that achieves desired outcome while having a balanced life.  For example, if you are a pharmacist with a college degree, you need to synergize the knowledge from your college education with experience from “deliberate practice” of pharmacy. You also need to add soft skills like emotional intelligence that help you coordinate your family, work environment, and customer interests to deliver desired outcomes.

My native African experience is that women are often raised to believe that their gender predisposed them to be less competent.  But I have come to learn that this is untrue, for example, as shown by the three characters in the book Hidden Figures, “the phenomenal true story of the exceptionally talented black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space.” (Shetterly, 2017). It is an inspiring book for all African career women to read. Competence is important because it is one of the key fundamentals of the capitalist society in which we work. For this reason, it is not within our control to choose whether or not to become competent, it is imposed.  Capitalism is competence-driven, efficiency-driven, profit-driven and, therefore, gender-agnostic.  Ideally, if you are the best the market will hire you, driven by its gender-agnostic profit motive.  But note that being the best includes being courageous to say, “yes I can,” the inspiring Barack Obama slogan, even at the risk of being labelled “proud”.  It is part of the creative personality profile that fired you up to competence in the first place and consistent with research findings of Csikszentmihalyi, who reported that “creative individuals have a great deal of energy, … often quiet and at rest … are also remarkably humble and proud at the same time.” (Csikszentmihalyi, 1996). We now know that “being too modest likely won’t serve you well.” (Nasher, 2019). Therefore, do not be demur; it would be professionally counterproductive for your career if you skittishly demur to the realities of your competence. The converse is true if you do what the market wants, namely, obey market rules, with evident demonstration of competence, and deliver that efficient resonant performance for which you have prepared. The society is replete with contemporary evidence in this respect.  A 2018 Pew Research survey shows that the American society is now more agreeable to the idea of women being in leadership positions in both business and politics (Horowitz, Igielnik, & Parker, 2018). Entrenched barriers are gradually crumbling and becoming morally unpopular.  But there is yet more work to be done.

To my fellow African women, I say, be strong and courageous, and watch the genius in you emerge to become visible to the market. These thoughts are from my daily introspections as I intently build my career capital to be compelling and resilient, and I wanted to humbly share them here hoping that someone would benefit from it.

Abigail A. Ekeigwe, B.Pharm, M.Pharm, FPCPharm, MSc.(Purdue), ASQ Certified QIA is a PhD. Student in Biotechnology Innovation and Regulatory Sciences at Purdue University. She can be reached at aekeigwe@purdue.edu, abigail.a.ekeigwe@gmail.com; LinkedIn page – https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-ekeigwe-74416b16/; ORCID – https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2695-7690.

References: Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: flow and the psychology of discovery and invention. New York: Harper Perennial.; Horowitz, J. M., Igielnik, R., & Parker, K. (2018, 2018-09-20). How Americans View Women Leaders in Politics and Business. Retrieved from https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2018/09/20/women-and-leadership-2018/; Nasher, J. (2019). To Seem More Competent, Be More Confident. Harvard Business Review(March – April).; Shetterly, M. L. (2017). Hidden figures: the American Dream and the untold story of the black women mathematicians who helped win the space race. New York: William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.