Dr. Jane Mutanga-Mutembo, a
doctoral student in epidemiology at the
University of Georgia College of Public Health, has been awarded the 2015-2016 Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the
Future Fellowship.
The one-year renewable grant provides female scientists from developing and emerging countries up to $50,000 to pursue advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics—commonly known as STEM—fields.
A physician, Mutanga-Mutembo has spent a decade
working with children who are living with HIV. The
award will help support her research to develop
mobile technology to help people living with HIV
maintain good adherence to lifelong medication
regimens needed to keep the virus suppressed.
"Antiretroviral medication must be taken consistently
to make sure the HIV virus is suppressed," she said.
"A lot of young patients are orphans who are being
looked after by their grandparents, older siblings or
other relatives. It's challenging to make sure that
they take their medications correctly and daily."
Mutanga-Mutembo plans to address this issue by
developing mobile technology capable of sending
interactive text messages that remind caregivers
about when medications need to be taken while
keeping track of the patient's adherence to
treatment.
Mobile phones have become widely available in
Zambia and most of Africa. According to current
estimates, nearly 78 percent of Zambia's adult
population owns a mobile phone.
By building on mobile-health solutions currently
supported by the Zambian government, Mutanga-
Mutembo hopes to be able to offer the service free
of charge. If successful, this new technology could be
expanded to help patients manage other chronic
diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes.
Mutanga-Mutembo completed her medical training
at the University of Zambia School of Medicine in
2005 and holds a certificate in pediatric antiretroviral
therapy from Stellenbosch University in South Africa.
In 2010, she received a Fulbright fellowship to study
in the U.S. at the UGA College of Public Health, where
she completed a Master of Public Health in
epidemiology in 2012.
Mutanga-Mutembo returned to UGA in 2013 to work
on a Ph.D. in epidemiology under the mentorship of
Dr. Christopher Whalen, Ernest Corn Professor of
Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Working with
Whalen, she is also combining her skills in medicine,
data analysis, computer programming and
community health to study the dynamics of
tuberculosis transmission among social networks in
Kampala, Uganda.
Recognizing the link between science, technology and
socioeconomic development, as well as the role of
education in realizing individual potential, the
Schlumberger Foundation established its flagship
program, Faculty for the Future, in 2004. Since then,
560 women from 68 emerging countries have
received Faculty for the Future Fellowships to pursue
advanced graduate studies at top universities
abroad.
"There are very few women who study science in
Zambia. There are so many odds against them and
so many bridges to cross," Mutanga-Mutembo said.
"One of the things I'd like to do, thanks to the
support of the Schlumberger Foundation, is
encourage girls and young women in my country to
study science, because science is the main driver of
development. Scientific innovation-that is what has
made life what it is today." Source: UGA Today
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