Nazik Hammad: Proud of the Medical Women’s Association of Zambia

Nazik Hammad shared a post by Catherine Mwaba, Consultant Clinical and Radiation Oncologist at Cancer Diseases Hospital, on LinkedIn, adding:

”Proud of the Medical Women’s Association of Zambia. We can learn a lot from you.”

Quoting Catherine Mwaba’s post:

”Medical Women’s Association of Zambia (MWAZ) is hosting the 10th Congress of the Medical Women International Association (MWIA) for Africa and the near East in the Tourist Capital, Livingstone, home to the Victoria Falls.

I was honored to meet Hon Sylvia T Masebo, Minister of Health Zambia who was the guest of Honor and graced the opening ceremony.

The Congress Theme: One Humanity- Health Solutions through our partnerships, and the subtheme: Health Equity through Partnerships, Innovation and Research.

The Congress is well organised event with representation from Women Medical Associations from across the continent… Congratulations MWAZ organizing committee.

Support of government is key to addressing unique issues that female doctors face through out their work.

Consideration for prolonged maternity leave is welcome and I look forward to MWAZ engaging government on this particular issue. The plenary sessions were fantastic and thought-provoking

What I found exciting was the number of young female doctors, recently graduated and doing their internships but looking to Mentors to help them choose their specialty areas as they forge their careers. We are slowly passing on the baton to young leaders, leaving the ladder leaning against the wall and helping them up to higher heights.

The networking was great. I have made several connections and this is just day 1.

Women are generally underrepresented in decision making roles. I look forward to a time when gender equity in Health is a reality.

The speakers were inspirational and our own Minister of Health gave an empassioned key note speech.

This was definitely a meeting or Congress not to miss.”

Source: Nazik Hammad/LinkedIn and Catherine Mwaba/LinkedIn

Nazik Hammad is a Sudanese Canadian Professor of medical oncology, at Saint Michael Hospital, Department of Medicine,  University of Toronto .  Her academic work and research interests include medical education and workforce development in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Other research and academic interests include value-based cancer care, global and local inequities and disparities in cancer, global health and global oncology,  women as health care professionals and cancer in conflict zones. Together with colleagues in Africa she led the first Choosing Wisely Africa initiative. She is a co-author in the Lancet Oncology commission for Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa and is a commissioner in the Lancet Commission on Women, Power and Cancer.

Nazik Hammad is a Professor at the Division of Hematology and Oncology, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto. She is the Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). Dr. Hammad is a visiting professor at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She is the co-chair of the Network for Advancing Black Learners (Medical Students and Residents) in Ontario. She is the former Director of Global Health at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University. Dr. Hammad is the recipient 2019 Harvard Global Health Catalyst Distinguished Young Leader Award.