Wanga Zembe-Mkabile

Last updated

Wanga Zembe-Mkabile
NationalitySouth African
Alma mater University of Cape Town (BSocSc) Oxford University (PhD)
Scientific career
Fields Sociology
Social policy
InstitutionsSouth African Medical Research Council
Thesis Good but not good enough: the limitations of a social assistance program for children in South Africa—the case of the child support grant  (2013)
Doctoral advisor Rebecca Surrender
Michael Noble

Wanga Zembe-Mkabile is a South African social policy researcher at the South African Medical Research Council, specializing in tracking food insecurity. She is known for working to develop research methods cooperatively with local communities.

Contents

Education

Zembe-Mkabile earned her Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Cape Town. [1] She has expressed support for younger scientists and students' activism for decolonization. As part of the first generation of black South Africans able to enter higher education and research, she has stated that she and her peers "entered these spaces and you were so grateful to be there that you didn't question anything. At least now, students are alert." [2] Zembe-Mkabile was awarded her PhD in 2013 by the Oxford University Department of Social Policy and Intervention (within Green Templeton College). [1] She has spoken about the discomfort and invasiveness of some part of her research on food security, and the difficulty of negotiating power dynamics between student researchers doing field work and their mentors who may not appreciate the sensitivity of research topics. In particular, she has advocated for community-aware and -involved research methods, stating that "Some questions are not worth exploring if they are going to trample on people’s dignity." [2]

Career

Zembe-Mkabile is a specialist scientist at the South African Medical Research Council's Health Systems Research Unit. [3] [4] She has analyzed the experience of government grant recipients qualitatively on an individual level, capturing details that quantitative research misses. [5] Furthermore, her work has shown that current grants and welfare efforts are inadequate in providing for children's basic nutritional needs. [4] Zembe-Mkabile's advocacy for respecting the dignity and humanity of human-subjects research on those in poverty was the inspiration for the first title of the University of South Africa's African Psychologies colloquium series, "Centering Africa in Health and Social Sciences Research and Teaching" colloquium, where she also presented. [6]

In addition to her research, Zembe-Mkabile is also an advocate in the lay press for more effective social grants, in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic. [7] [8] Her recent work has focused on the effects of COVID-19 on food security for families in poverty or who lost work as a result of lockdowns in the Langa township of Cape Town, documenting how existing government measures have provided only inconsistent support for many parents and caregivers. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malnutrition</span> Medical condition

Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is "a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients" which adversely affects the body's tissues and form. Malnutrition is not receiving the correct amount of nutrition. Malnutrition is increasing in children under the age of five due to providers who cannot afford or do not have access to adequate nutrition.

A dietitian, medical dietitian, or dietician is an expert in identifying and treating disease-related malnutrition and in conducting medical nutrition therapy, for example designing an enteral tube feeding regimen or mitigating the effects of cancer cachexia. Many dietitians work in hospitals and usually see specific patients where a nutritional assessment and intervention has been requested by a doctor or nurse, for example if a patient has lost their ability to swallow or requires artificial nutrition due to intestinal failure. Dietitians are regulated healthcare professionals licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat such problems. In the United Kingdom, dietitian is a 'protected title', meaning identifying yourself as a dietitian without appropriate education and registration is prohibited by law.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillian McKeith</span> Scottish television presenter and writer

Gillian McKeith is a Scottish television personality and writer. She is known for her promotion of various pseudoscientific ideas about health and nutrition. She is the former host of Channel 4's You Are What You Eat (2004–2006), Granada Television's Dr Gillian McKeith's Feel Fab Forever (2009–2010), and W Network's Eat Yourself Sexy (2010). In 2008, McKeith regularly appeared on the E4 health show Supersize vs Superskinny, and in 2010, she was a contestant on the tenth series of the ITV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Noakes</span> South African sports researcher

Timothy David Noakes is a South African scientist, and an emeritus professor in the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town.

Patrick Holford is a British author and entrepreneur who endorses a range of controversial vitamin tablets. As an advocate of alternative nutrition and diet methods, he appears regularly on television and radio in the UK and abroad. He has 36 books in print in 29 languages. His business career promotes a wide variety of alternative medical approaches such as orthomolecular medicine, many of which are considered pseudoscientific by mainstream science and medicine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elsie Widdowson</span> British nutritionist

Elsie Widdowson, was a British dietitian and nutritionist. She and Dr Robert McCance, a pediatrician, physiologist, biochemist, and nutritionist, were responsible for overseeing the government-mandated addition of vitamins to food and wartime rationing in Britain during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition</span> Swiss nonprofit foundation

The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a non-profit foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. GAIN was developed at the UN 2002 Special Session of the General Assembly on Children. GAIN’s actions include improving the consumption of nutritious and safe foods for all. They are supported by over 30 donors and work closely with international organisations and United Nations agencies. Their activities include improving consumption of nutritious food globally. The organisation has a 20 year history of food system programmes: focusing on adolescent and child nutrition, food system research, fortification, small and medium enterprise assistance, biofortification of crops and reducing post-harvest losses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuba–South Africa relations</span> Bilateral relations

Cuba–South Africa relations refer to the bilateral relations between Cuba and South Africa. Relations were strained during the apartheid era. Cuba has an embassy in Pretoria, South Africa has an embassy in Havana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glenda Gray</span> South African researcher

Glenda Elisabeth GrayMB BCh, FC Paeds, DSc (hc), is a South African physician, scientist and activist specializing in the care of children and in HIV medicine. In 2012, she was awarded South Africa's highest honour, the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver). She became the first female president of the South African Medical Research Council in 2014, was recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential People" by Time in 2017 and was listed amongst "Africa's 50 Most Powerful Women" by Forbes Africa in 2020. Her research expertise involves developing microbicides for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV vaccines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecile Hoover Edwards</span> African American nutritional researcher

Cecile Hoover Edwards was an American nutritional researcher whose career focused on improving the nutrition and well-being of disadvantaged people. Her scientific focus was on finding low-cost foods with an optimal amino acid composition, with a special interest in methionine metabolism. She was also a university administrator, serving as dean of several schools within Howard University between 1974 and 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Precious Moloi-Motsepe</span> South African fashion entrepreneur

Precious Moloi-Motsepe is a South African philanthropist and fashion entrepreneur. One of the richest women in South Africa she started her career as a medical practitioner, specializing in children and women's health. In September 2019 she was elected Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, succeeding Graça Machel, and beginning her ten-year term on 1 January.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindisiwe van Zyl</span> South African physician, radio DJ, and columnist (1976–2021)

Sindisiwe van Zyl, was a Zimbabwean-born South African physician, radio DJ, columnist, health activist and researcher known for using social and mainstream media to share HIV-related, mental health, reproductive health, other medical and public health information. She won several awards for her work. Because of her extensive public health advocacy, she was known as "the people's doctor".

South Africa has one of the most extensive social welfare systems among developing countries in the world. In 2019, an estimated 18 million people received some form of social grant provided by the government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa</span> COVID-19 viral pandemic in South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa is part of the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea-Bissau</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Guinea-Bissau

The COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea-Bissau is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have reached Guinea-Bissau in March 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Families First Coronavirus Response Act</span> 2020 US federal law, "Phase 2" of pandemic relief

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act is an Act of Congress meant to respond to the economic impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The act provides funding for free coronavirus testing, 14-day paid leave for American workers affected by the pandemic, and increased funding for food stamps.

Karithi Ruth Wanjiru Nduati is a Kenyan Pediatrician and Epidemiologist who also teaches at the University of Nairobi College of Health Sciences. She is also currently leading an interdisciplinary program through the University of Nairobi School of Medicine to educate physician-researchers to best implement HIV treatment and prevention methods backed by research. The program was funded by the Fogarty Training Grant which is a part of the PEPFAR funds the country of Kenya received.

Liza Makowski Hayes is an American nutritional biochemist. As a professor at the University of Tennessee, her research focuses on how metabolic stress and inflammation alters the progression of diseases, specifically obesity and cancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessica Fanzo</span> American scientist

Jessica Fanzo is an American scientist. She is the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Global Food and Agriculture Policy and Ethics at the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Prior to coming to Johns Hopkins, Fanzo was an assistant professor of Nutrition in the Institute of Human Nutrition and Department of Pediatrics at Columbia University. In January 2023, Columbia announced that Fanzo will rejoin its faculty as a professor in the Columbia Climate School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Health (Kuwait)</span> Government organization in Kuwait

The Ministry of Health is the ministry responsible for the public health of citizens and residents of the State of Kuwait and for drawing up the health policy plan in Kuwait. It was established in 1936, and is now headed by Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi.

References

  1. 1 2 Zembe, Wanga (2013). Good but not good enough: the limitations of a social assistance program for children in South Africa—the case of the child support grant (PhD). Oxford University. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 Nordling, Linda (7 February 2018). "How decolonization could reshape South African science". Nature. 554 (7691): 159–162. doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-01696-w .
  3. ↑ "Wanga Zembe-Mkabile". The Conversation. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 Ratsela, Keletso (22 April 2016). "Research shows disparity between Child Support Grant and child health in South Africa". South African Medical Research Council. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Zembe-Mkabile, Wanga; Surender, Rebecca; Sanders, David; Swart, Rina; Ramokolo, Vundli; Wright, Gemma; Doherty, Tanya (1 April 2018). "'To be a woman is to make a plan': a qualitative study exploring mothers' experiences of the Child Support Grant in supporting children's diets and nutrition in South Africa". BMJ Open. 8 (4): e019376. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019376 . ISSN   2044-6055. PMC   5922468 . PMID   29691242.
  6. ↑ Annual Report 2017 (PDF) (Report). University of South Africa Institute for Social and Health Sciences. 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Zembe-Mkabile, Wanga. "Social grants: more than just money at stake". News24. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. ↑ Doherty, Wanga Zembe-Mkabile, Vundli Ramokolo and Tanya (26 May 2020). "CORONAVIRUS OP-ED: Covid-19 and social grants: Relief measures welcome, but not enough". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 22 March 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Pikoli, Zukiswa (19 August 2020). "MAVERICK CITIZEN WEBINAR REPORT: Feeding in a crisis: Social protection and governance during the pandemic". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.