Malawi Medical Journal; 25 (4): 123-124 December 2013
A Deeper L k.....
Deeper Look
28
looking into the lives of people and projects that are making
a difference in Malawi....... ““I believe I have strengths in mentoring others, especially the younger colleagues. My network of contacts helps strengthen the education and training environment”…… Thengo Kavinya talks to Professor Nyengo Mkandawire on his career MMJ: Briefly give me the background of yourself. Nyengo: Personal
I was born on 17th January 1964 in Ntcheu, Malawi. I am married to Dr Chimangu Mary Mkandawire a public health physician, and leadership and career consultant and we one daughter, Tapoka Thulisile Ntchindi, who is currently studying molecular biology at the University of Manchester. I am fifth born in a family of seven siblings. I hail from Chihoro Village, T/A Chikulamayembe, Livingstonia in Rumphi District.
Education I attended Mpemba, Dharap, Mphungu, Limbe, and Osman Gani primary schools in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba.I did my secondary education at Bandawe, Rumphi, and Nkhata Bay secondary schools. In 1981, I was amongst the first group of A-Level students selected to the Kamuzu Academy as founding students and finished A-levels in 1983. In 1983 I joined Chancellor College, the University of Malawi, to do a BSc (Hons) majoring in chemistry, but did not finish the programme as I was offered an Australian Government scholarship to study medicine at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia from 1985-90. I graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery degree. After graduating in 1990 I did one year of internship at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and returned to Malawi in 1992 where I worked as a junior doctor at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital until 1994 when I left for postgraduate training in orthopaedics in the Mersey Deanery in the UK from 1995 to 1999. I obtained a Master of Surgery in Orthopaedics from the University of Liverpool. I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; a Foundation Fellow of the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA); and a Fellow of the Foundation for the Advancement In Medical Education and Research (FAIMER). I returned to Malawi at the turn of the millennium in December 1999.
MMJ: Brief me more about your professional experiences Nyengo: I joined the COM as a lecturer in surgery in 1999; got promoted to Senior Lecturer in August 2003, to Associate Professor in July 2007 and attained full Professorship in June 2012. I am currently Head of Surgery Department but have also served the College of Medicine in various capacities including deputy head of surgery, deputy dean, coordinator of premedical science / foundation programme. I have been the external examiner for postgraduate specialist orthopaedic examinations for the University of Zambia School of Medicine, University of Addis Ababa School of Medicine and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences of Tanzania. I have also served as chief examiner for orthopaedic Fellowship examinations of the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). I am Past President of the Association of Surgeons of East Africa (ASEA) and have served on councils ASEA and COSECSA. I have also served as President of the Surgical Association of Malawi. Other positions I currently hold include: • Adjunct Professor, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Australia. • Faculty Representative, University of Malawi Senate. • Member, University of Malawi Council. • Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. • Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mwaiwathu Private Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi • Clinical Director, Orthopaedic Clinical Officer Training Programme, Malawi College of Health Sciences / Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. • Board Member, Medical Council of Malawi. • Editorial Board Member, Malawi Medical Journal • Editorial Board Member, East and Central Africa Journal of Surgery • Patron of the Malawi Orthopaedic Association • Malawi Country Coordinator of the Southern Africa Consortium of Research Excellence (SACORE); a capacity building initiative funded by Wellcome Trust linking institutions in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and the United Kingdom • Commissioner: Lancet Commission on Global Surgery • Board Member, St John Ambulance • Board Member, BEIT CURE International Hospital.
Malawi Medical Journal; 25 (4): 123-124 December 2013
MMJ: How do you define good surgical practice? Nyengo: Good surgical practice requires detailed anatomical knowledge; putting safety for patient, self and others at the heart of ones practice; and paying attention to detail.
MMJ: What do you think are the most important attributes of a good surgical doctor? Nyengo: A good surgeon must have courage, determination, dedication and must be decisive. Training and getting experience to be a good surgeon take time so the surgeon must be patient and must strive to be a lifelong learner as technology is ever changing. A surgeon must also be a teacher, mentor and researcher.
Deeper Look
29
MMJ: Please mention any highlights you are proud of in your career. Nyengo: There are many highlights in my career but those that stand out include: • Promotion to full Professor and being recognition by peers during the inaugural lecture • Appointment as adjunct professor in Flinders University my Alma Mater • International recognition as a Lancet Commissioner in Global Surgery • Serving as President of the Association of Surgeons of East Africa • Securing a nearly US$3m grant form the Norwegian Government (NORHED) to build surgical capacity in Malawi by training 30 surgeons in the next five years.
MMJ: What are your views on the current standards of health care in the country and what should MMJ: What are your current research interests? change and improve? Nyengo: Malawi faces many challenges in the area of health care: These include • Critical shortage of Human Resources for Health. There is need to train more specialist across all medical disciplines including surgery. Outputs form medical training institutions needs to be increased and also new there must be investment in more training institutions. • The health physical infrastructure is dilapidated in most institutions in the country. There is need for massive investment in infrastructure improvement. The two points above call for massive injection of funds to be addressed. There is therefore a need to re-look at health sector funding in Malawi. Brave decision to implement ‘cost-sharing’ and universal health insurance must be made urgently. Professionalism among health care workers is also a serious challenge. The standards are deteriorating in my opinion. Role modeling and mentorship needs be strengthened; the regulatory authorities need to have more power in ensuring basic minimum standards of care are maintained by health care workers and the institutions under Ministry of Health, CHAM hospitals and the private sector. Remuneration and conditions of service for health care workers need to be improved to strengthen professionalism
MMJ: How would your background and experiences strengthen the surgery academic department? Nyengo: I believe I have strengths in mentoring others, especially the younger colleagues. My network of contacts helps strengthen the education and training environment as well as facilitating links and support for research and service provision
Nyengo: I have varied research interests including: HIV and surgery, medical education, public health aspects of surgery and global burden of surgical disease, and human resource for health.
MMJ: Any last words Nyengo: I thank God for putting me where I am professionally; for giving me a wonderful and supportive family; and the mentorship from senior colleagues who have helped me attain these achievements. Special mention to Dr Edward Blair for encouraging me to do orthopaedic surgery; Mr Dalton Boot for facilitating my orthopaedic training in the UK and being my mentor; Dr Richard Kemme for supporting me and my family during the transition period when I returned to Malawi.
A Deeper L k.....
Deeper Look
28
looking into the lives of people and projects that are making
a difference in Malawi....... ““I believe I have strengths in mentoring others, especially the younger colleagues. My network of contacts helps strengthen the education and training environment”…… Thengo Kavinya talks to Professor Nyengo Mkandawire on his career MMJ: Briefly give me the background of yourself. Nyengo: Personal
I was born on 17th January 1964 in Ntcheu, Malawi. I am married to Dr Chimangu Mary Mkandawire a public health physician, and leadership and career consultant and we one daughter, Tapoka Thulisile Ntchindi, who is currently studying molecular biology at the University of Manchester. I am fifth born in a family of seven siblings. I hail from Chihoro Village, T/A Chikulamayembe, Livingstonia in Rumphi District.
Education I attended Mpemba, Dharap, Mphungu, Limbe, and Osman Gani primary schools in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba.I did my secondary education at Bandawe, Rumphi, and Nkhata Bay secondary schools. In 1981, I was amongst the first group of A-Level students selected to the Kamuzu Academy as founding students and finished A-levels in 1983. In 1983 I joined Chancellor College, the University of Malawi, to do a BSc (Hons) majoring in chemistry, but did not finish the programme as I was offered an Australian Government scholarship to study medicine at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia from 1985-90. I graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery degree. After graduating in 1990 I did one year of internship at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and returned to Malawi in 1992 where I worked as a junior doctor at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital until 1994 when I left for postgraduate training in orthopaedics in the Mersey Deanery in the UK from 1995 to 1999. I obtained a Master of Surgery in Orthopaedics from the University of Liverpool. I am a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; a Foundation Fellow of the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA); and a Fellow of the Foundation for the Advancement In Medical Education and Research (FAIMER). I returned to Malawi at the turn of the millennium in December 1999.
MMJ: Brief me more about your professional experiences Nyengo: I joined the COM as a lecturer in surgery in 1999; got promoted to Senior Lecturer in August 2003, to Associate Professor in July 2007 and attained full Professorship in June 2012. I am currently Head of Surgery Department but have also served the College of Medicine in various capacities including deputy head of surgery, deputy dean, coordinator of premedical science / foundation programme. I have been the external examiner for postgraduate specialist orthopaedic examinations for the University of Zambia School of Medicine, University of Addis Ababa School of Medicine and the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences of Tanzania. I have also served as chief examiner for orthopaedic Fellowship examinations of the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). I am Past President of the Association of Surgeons of East Africa (ASEA) and have served on councils ASEA and COSECSA. I have also served as President of the Surgical Association of Malawi. Other positions I currently hold include: • Adjunct Professor, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Australia. • Faculty Representative, University of Malawi Senate. • Member, University of Malawi Council. • Consultant Orthopaedic surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. • Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mwaiwathu Private Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi • Clinical Director, Orthopaedic Clinical Officer Training Programme, Malawi College of Health Sciences / Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. • Board Member, Medical Council of Malawi. • Editorial Board Member, Malawi Medical Journal • Editorial Board Member, East and Central Africa Journal of Surgery • Patron of the Malawi Orthopaedic Association • Malawi Country Coordinator of the Southern Africa Consortium of Research Excellence (SACORE); a capacity building initiative funded by Wellcome Trust linking institutions in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and the United Kingdom • Commissioner: Lancet Commission on Global Surgery • Board Member, St John Ambulance • Board Member, BEIT CURE International Hospital.
Malawi Medical Journal; 25 (4): 123-124 December 2013
MMJ: How do you define good surgical practice? Nyengo: Good surgical practice requires detailed anatomical knowledge; putting safety for patient, self and others at the heart of ones practice; and paying attention to detail.
MMJ: What do you think are the most important attributes of a good surgical doctor? Nyengo: A good surgeon must have courage, determination, dedication and must be decisive. Training and getting experience to be a good surgeon take time so the surgeon must be patient and must strive to be a lifelong learner as technology is ever changing. A surgeon must also be a teacher, mentor and researcher.
Deeper Look
29
MMJ: Please mention any highlights you are proud of in your career. Nyengo: There are many highlights in my career but those that stand out include: • Promotion to full Professor and being recognition by peers during the inaugural lecture • Appointment as adjunct professor in Flinders University my Alma Mater • International recognition as a Lancet Commissioner in Global Surgery • Serving as President of the Association of Surgeons of East Africa • Securing a nearly US$3m grant form the Norwegian Government (NORHED) to build surgical capacity in Malawi by training 30 surgeons in the next five years.
MMJ: What are your views on the current standards of health care in the country and what should MMJ: What are your current research interests? change and improve? Nyengo: Malawi faces many challenges in the area of health care: These include • Critical shortage of Human Resources for Health. There is need to train more specialist across all medical disciplines including surgery. Outputs form medical training institutions needs to be increased and also new there must be investment in more training institutions. • The health physical infrastructure is dilapidated in most institutions in the country. There is need for massive investment in infrastructure improvement. The two points above call for massive injection of funds to be addressed. There is therefore a need to re-look at health sector funding in Malawi. Brave decision to implement ‘cost-sharing’ and universal health insurance must be made urgently. Professionalism among health care workers is also a serious challenge. The standards are deteriorating in my opinion. Role modeling and mentorship needs be strengthened; the regulatory authorities need to have more power in ensuring basic minimum standards of care are maintained by health care workers and the institutions under Ministry of Health, CHAM hospitals and the private sector. Remuneration and conditions of service for health care workers need to be improved to strengthen professionalism
MMJ: How would your background and experiences strengthen the surgery academic department? Nyengo: I believe I have strengths in mentoring others, especially the younger colleagues. My network of contacts helps strengthen the education and training environment as well as facilitating links and support for research and service provision
Nyengo: I have varied research interests including: HIV and surgery, medical education, public health aspects of surgery and global burden of surgical disease, and human resource for health.
MMJ: Any last words Nyengo: I thank God for putting me where I am professionally; for giving me a wonderful and supportive family; and the mentorship from senior colleagues who have helped me attain these achievements. Special mention to Dr Edward Blair for encouraging me to do orthopaedic surgery; Mr Dalton Boot for facilitating my orthopaedic training in the UK and being my mentor; Dr Richard Kemme for supporting me and my family during the transition period when I returned to Malawi.
