British and Ghanaian US-based Biotech and Healthcare Innovation Expert, Efua Edusei, has made a strong case for the pioneering and prioritization of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and capacity building in Africa.
According to her, this will present a major boost for life sciences in Africa and globally.
It is against this background that Efua Edusei is advocating for more women to boldly pursue careers in the STEM field.
“Currently, in most African countries, including Ghana, STEM careers are still heavily geared towards men. A recent UNESCO Science report recorded that only 35% of STEM students in higher education globally are women. In addition, only 33% of researchers are women, although they represent 45% and 55% of students at the Bachelors and Masters level, respectively. This gender disparity in a field that is considered to have the jobs of the future and drives innovation is alarming. However, the disparity can be tackled by active e community engagement and policymakers developing sustainable programs that open this world to more women. ” Efua Edusei revealed.
“Female scientists should be celebrated as some of the greatest biomedical inventions of our time were discovered by women, including Hellen Murray Free, who discovered the self-testing systems for diabetes like the dip-and-read test,” she said.
She added: “African-American ophthalmologist Patricia Bath invented the Laserphaco Probe, a device used to remove cataracts and cataract lenses, and these are just a few.”
Touching on the COVID-19 pandemic and the new normal, she indicated that more recently, female researchers have been an integral part of the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.
“Kizzmekia Corbett, an African American scientist at the US National Institute of Health (NIH) helped to design the Moderna COVID vaccine. Following this achievement, Corbett was granted the honor to become one of the first people to open a vial of the vaccine which she shared during an interview with CBS News earlier this year. The same qualities like attention to detail and empathy that make women excellent housemakers and mothers if they choose to be, also make us wonderful scientists,” she said.
Ms. Edusei underscored that it is high time everyone played their part in actively encouraging more young women to pursue careers in the sciences.
“Let’s make wearing a lab coat, building machines, and doing maths attractive for young women in this generation and beyond – mother Africa and global health will benefit greatly from this in the future,”.
She further made reference to the United Nations Secretary General’s concern for women and girls’ empowerment.
“At his International Day of Women and Girls in Science speech, United Nations Secretary Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of giving girls access to the education they deserve and stressed that ‘women belong in science.”
She added, “perhaps initiatives such as International Day of Women and Girls can be emulated at a local and regional level where countries can have specific days and events dedicated to celebrating women in STEM to raise awareness.”