SOUTH AFRICA—The University of Cape Town (UCT) head of Global Surgery, Prof. Dr Salome Maswime, has been recognised for her contributions to medical research at the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South 32 awards.
The UCT Medical professor received the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Clinician-Scientist Award at the NSTF-South 32 awards ceremony in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Popularly known as South Africa’s “Science Oscars”, the NSTF awards are the largest and most prestigious science, engineering, technology (SET), and innovation awards in the country.
They showcase the research and development capacity of the country by recognising outstanding contributions to SET outcomes carried out by esteemed researchers.
“Thank you for recognising the work that we are doing in global surgery and equity. Thank you for also recognising and creating this award for clinician-scientists,” Maswime said in her acceptance speech.
Prof. Maswime said her award is a significant recognition of research that aims to interrogate access to surgical care to improve the safety and quality of this type of medical care in Africa, especially for pregnant women.
“The biggest challenge for our generation is not going to be discovering new diseases or new treatment, granted there is a very special place for that, it is rather to improve access to healthcare. Despite the advances in medical science, billions of people in the world do not have access to surgical care,” Prof. Maswime noted.
Prof. Maswime is a clinician scientist, academic, and advocate for women’s health rights – world-renowned for leading research on obstetric surgery and stillbirths.
Growing in leaps and bounds- the field of Global Surgery
The University of Cape Town interrogates that Global Surgery is a new field in medicine and focuses on access to surgery and improving the quality of care and outcomes.
Moreover, it is particularly important in under-resourced communities where surgical morbidity and mortality rates are typically high, access to surgical care is lacking, and complications occur frequently.
Additionally, in Low and middle-income countries, patients still face delays in receiving the necessary care, and there are stark differences in the quality of care provided.
Furthermore, exacerbated by the chasmic disparities between surgical outcomes across varying geographic settings.
Based in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Maswime is the education director for the Global Surgery academic programme at UCT, and chairs UCT’s steering committee for the University of the Future Project.
Two days before receiving her NSTF award, she delivered her professorial inaugural lecture on caesarean section-related complications and strengthening global surgical systems.
UCT vice-chancellor interim, Emeritus Professor Daya Reddy, described the NSTF-South32 awards as a “cardinal recognition” of the dedication, perseverance and tremendous effort of the work South African researchers carry out towards addressing society’s challenges.
“Scientific research is at times an arduous endeavour. Nevertheless, it has the potential to have a profound impact on individuals, to empower and build communities, and offer a deeper understanding of the world’s challenges, in this way helping us pioneer innovative ideas and solutions,” Prof. Reddy said.
Professor Sue Harrison, the deputy vice-chancellor for Research and Internationalisation, said the honour and recognition bestowed to all the finalists and Maswime is another proud moment for UCT.
“It serves to acknowledge the exceptional work carried out by our researchers. It reaffirms our drive to pursue and achieve the highest standard of research that both builds new global knowledge and impacts the quality of life in South Africa and the rest of the continent, as it aligns with our Vision 2030,” Prof. Harrison said.
This year, 14 UCT researchers were selected as finalists in various categories of the awards – this is no small feat considering the pool of profusely talented scientists and the number of nominations the NSTF receives every year.
A pioneer shaping South Africa medical surgical landscape
Prof. Salome Maswime is a Professor and the Head of Global Surgery at the University of Cape Town, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist.
She is also the President of the South African Clinician Scientists Society, and a member of the Academy of Science South Africa, Next Einstein Fellow, World Economic Forum Young Scientist and World Laureate Forum Young Scientist.
She completed an MMED and PhD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, funded by the Discovery Foundation.
Salome Maswime is originally from Botlokwa, Limpopo province, South Africa.
She has worked in various hospitals in South Africa, including the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto.
Her research interests are global obstetric surgery and placental science, where she advocates for women’s health rights and equity in healthcare.
She has received numerous awards for her tenacity and commitment to maternal health.
Prof Maswime was acknowledged as a Trailblazer and Young Achiever by the President of South Africa in 2017, named in the 2017 Mail and Guardian 200 Young South Africans, and 50 most powerful women in 2020.
In 2020 received the Research in Health award from One Africa and was recognised in 2021 by Encyclopaedia Brittanica among 20 Shapers of the Future of Medicine.
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