Medical students shine at awards ceremony

Lifestyle

Charity Ruzvidzo
Eight medical students and researchers were yesterday recognised for their outstanding academic achievements yesterday at the Annual Medical Research Day awards ceremony.

The Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe (MRCZ) honoured the students and researchers at the University of Zimbabwe – Institute of Continuing Health Education (ICHE) with certificates, trophies and cash prizes for researching into various issues affecting the health sector in the country.

Pamidzai Madzima, an eye specialist, won the MRCZ overall best prize for the best paper that focused on presentation patterns of Retinoblastoma (the most common malignant cancer of the eye in children) at Sekuru Kaguvi Hospital.

Sandra Kariwo won the Michael Gelfand prize (Best social science paper), Nokuthula Gatsi (Samuel Parirenyatwa Undergraduate Prize), Vimbai Chigidi (Lawrence Levy Postgraduate Paper), Ngaatendwe Mataswa (Abraham Harid Clinical Paper Prize), Theresa Chimponda (Steven Chandiwana Biomedical Science Paper), Prof Jens Meikle Poster Presentation Prize) and Elliot Chikati won the Dr Tendayi Chimbadzwa Provincial Paper.

The list of prize winners was for the entries which were entered for the 2016 AMRD call for papers.

The awards were aimed at recognizing the best research in the field of health sciences.

Speaking at the ceremony, the director of ICHE, Mr Christopher Samkange said it was important for researchers to play their part in finding innovative solutions to some of the most pressing problems in the country’s health sector.

“Today is a day where we celebrate excellence in research,” he said.

“Research is very important as it answers many challenges faced in the health sector. It also creates a platform to deliberate on the way forward for the researched issues, this goes a long way in improving the sector.”

Research on its own, the veteran surgeon said, was of no value unless it answered problems facing the entire Zimbabwean population.

“Research has no value until it’s implemented,” he said. “Holding it here at the university does not make it relevant. It only becomes meaningful when it meets the specific health needs of Zimbabweans.

“In everyday clinical practice we should be engaged to answer these questions. As ICHE we are not impressed by having research published, we are impressed when it has impact and changes the lives of our citizens.”

Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe chairperson, Dr Shungu Munyati said the awards were named in memory of Zimbabwe’s medical heroes who played a crucial role in the development of the country’s health sector.

“The awards are named after the heroes who made immense contributions to the country’s health sector,” she said. “It is important for us to uphold the values that these heroes stood for, and excellence is one of them.”

Winners were elated by their achievements.

Said Madzima: “I feel very humbled to have won this award. The competition was stiff and I’m very happy to have won.

“I want to raise more awareness on retinoblastoma. The research will go a long way in curbing the disease.”

The National Aids Council and other partners supported the awards.

It pledged to fund research on HIV and Aids to help the country to stop new infections by 2020. -Zimpapers Syndication.