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Panellists at the International EcoHealth Forum 2008 session Celebrating Distinguished Women in EcoHealth discussed their work as women in research for development. The facilitator, Raghida Haddad, introduced these remarkable scientists.

 

All five panellists are dedicated to bringing about change in the lives of disadvantaged populations, and striving for a more sustainable world. They said community involvement is essential if science is to bring about change. They shared their experiences working in communities with different social, cultural, religious, and political backgrounds.

 

For her work on dengue prevention, Dr Cristina Díaz was awarded the Cuban National Science Award. Cuba, a leader in dengue research, emphasizes participatory efforts to control the spread of the dengue mosquito. Dr Díaz’s work focused on eliminating vector breeding sites. This included behavioural changes at the household level, so involvement of the community and particularly of local women was critical to success. Dr Diaz said being sensitive to gender issues was key.

 

Dr Vijaya Lakshmi received an Indian science and technology award for developing low-cost, portable water testing kits and filters. These kits provide safe water to rural communities and are extensively used throughout India. Another successful ecohealth project of Dr. Lakshmi’s was the development of accessible technology for dust control. In stone quarrying and crushing operations in Central India, dust is a major occupational hazard. “The ecohealth approach brings transdisciplinarity [different types of knowledge] to solving complex problems,” Dr Lakshmi said. Community engagement is essential–“learning from the community as well as giving back.”

 

Dr Oyuntogos Lkhasuren was awarded Best Research Team at the Health Sciences University of Mongolia for ecohealth research on risks associated with small industry leather tanneries. Multiple stakeholders, including policy makers and leather tannery owners and workers, were consulted. They identified risks, designed practical interventions, and promoted safer practices such as the use of boots, gloves, and masks. Dr Lkhasuren convinced policy makers to enforce treatment of wastewater before its release into the Tuul River, which flows through Mongolia’s capital city.

 

Dr Donna Mergler has received many distinctions throughout her career in health and environment research, including the Michel-Jurdant Prize for Environmental Sciences. Dr Mergler applies gender awareness and sensitivity to her work in developing countries. In her research on human exposure to mercury in the Amazon, she assessed health effects and methods for risk mitigation in fishing populations. Local women assisted in data collection and analysis, and in planning actions to reduce exposure to mercury.

 

Dr Maria Carlota Monroy, the first woman to receive the Guatemalan National Science Award, was recognized for research on Chagas, a “forgotten disease”—a disease of poverty. Dr Monroy used a community-based approach to study the persistence of vector species in people’s homes. Using local technology and skills, her team improved housing conditions to keep out the vector bug, which often hides in cracks in walls. By exploring the local culture, they learned that women were in charge of housing improvement tasks, so women were invited to participate in repairs to eliminate the bugs.

 

The panellists’ experience illustrates the relevance of gender awareness in research for development. Women and men have “different relations with their environment,” said Dr Mergler.

 

The panellists also discussed their experiences as female scientists. The number of women in science has increased over Dr Mergler’s career, but more must be done, she said. Dr Monroy agreed that women must persevere in a scientific community traditionally dominated by men. In Cuba, although the majority of scientists are women, male scientists are more renowned, Dr Diaz commented. Dr Lkhasuren said she has not experienced discrimination as a female scientist in Mongolia, where many doctors are women. Dr Lakshmi summarized: both women and men face hurdles, and regardless of gender, personal effort is the key.

 

For articles related to this Forum session follow the links below:

Document(s) 6 of 7