By Favour Afunanya
Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria, PPSN has admitted Prof. Florence Onyemachi Nduka into its College of Fellows in recognition of her contributions towards the elimination and control of diseases in Nigeria, Africa and the society at large.
The honour was conferred on her at the closing ceremony of 47th Annual Conference and commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Society held in Owerri, last Friday.
Prof. Nduka, Society Mirror gathered, aside being a member of PPSN, is a member of Organization of Women Scientists of the Developing World, OWSD; American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, ASTMH and American Society for Parasitologists, ASP.
She is also an In- Country Consultant to the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health on Neglected Tropical Diseases and sits as a member of the National Steering Committee on Neglected Tropical Diseases that formulates policies for implementation of control measures especially the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene components to the underserved communities at high risk of these infections.
She is equally the Co-Chair of Nigeria Technical Working Group on Schistosomiasis and Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis and Chairman, Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Malaria Research supervising research on mapping of Malaria in the vulnerable groups in the Niger Delta area.
Prof. Nduka, an erudite scholar and health expert is the wife of the renowned Prof. Ethelbert Nduka, Professor of Statistics and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, University of Port Harcourt, who hailed from Umunumo Autonomous Community in Ehime Mbano council area of Imo State.
She is widely published with over 80 articles in both local and international peer -reviewed high impact journals in her field of specialty; has supervised several undergraduate and postgraduate students (which currently includes 4 Professors and 2 Associate Professors).
Her research focuses on the epidemiology of major parasitic infections found in the tropics such as malaria, schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminthiasis and filariasis.
Also, her research outputs have provided baseline data, validated diagnostics, shown unity perception and practices that enhance risks, role of environmental degradation in transmission and advocacy and public health education in the reduction of infections.
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Her research has also investigated the compliance levels to WHO prescribed malaria preventive therapy in pregnant women in different sections of the country. Her advocacy and community mobilization efforts in Lokpa area of Abia State drew attention to abandoned quarry pits and their role in Urinary schistosomiasis transmission.
Admitted into the College alongside Prof. Nduka during the event were Dr Sunday Isiyaku, Country Director of Sightsavers Nigeria and Ghana, Prof. Andy Egwunyenga, Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, Abraka, Prof. Ehizogie Egbeobauwaye-Adeyemi, Prof. Alexander Odaibo, Prof. Nkiruka Orji and Prof. Onyinye Ukpai.
Others included Prof. Rebecca Naphtali, Prof. Abdulhamid Ahmed, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, Prof. Kenneth Opara, Dr Sam Ugbomoiko, Prof. Olaoluwa Akinwale, Prof. Okpok Okon and Chief Benjamin Nwobi, who are all parasitology and public health experts.
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