Health research: Consortium brainstorms on addressing challenges facing women.

It held under the theme: “Women in Research for Health: Breaking Barriers”. The come together which was spearheaded by the renowned researcher and founder of HIGHER Women Consortium, Prof Rose Gana Fomban Leke.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Prof Ebelle Etame Rebecca Madeline, declared the workshop opened. 

Addressing female researchers and those still making their steps in this domain, the President of HIGHER Women Consortium, pointed out that while both men and women may start their careers at the same point, men often progress faster in the research domain. 

The acclaimed professor of international standing encouraged young researchers to take their work seriously, highlighting that professionalism is a key factor in overcoming all the challenges faced in their research career.

On her part, the Vice President of HIGHER Women Consortium, Professor Judith Torimiro, noted that women pursuing careers in health research face an uphill battle.

She said despite equal starting points with the men, many women researchers find it hard to keep pace due to societal and familial pressures and this leads to a drop in research productivity. 

“It’s not about competing with men, but empowering women to successfully contribute to public health research,” Prof Torimiro said.

She went on to highlight that it was as a result of the disparities that senior women scientists, who are often also educators, took upon themselves to encourage young women to pursue science.

Prof Torimiro mentioned health research, where they have put in place a mentor and mentee programme, which warrants that senior researchers guide the younger generation in the field.

The power of mentorship

According to a mentor at HIGHER Women Consortium, Dr Valerie Makoge, one of the cornerstones of the consortium is its mentorship programme. 

She explained that the flagship program follows a mentee-protégé format in which experienced women researchers mentor younger scientists, guiding them not only in their careers but also in managing life challenges. 

Dr Makoge pointed out that they work in a holistic mentorship platform, which addresses both career and personal development. 

“In Cameroon, and the world at large, mentorship is often lacking. There are so many people who need guidance, and HIGHER Women Consortium fills that gap. The mentorship initiative provides women with invaluable resources, helping them navigate the different challenges they face as they balance family, society, and their career aspirations,” Dr Makoge explained. 

Anticipates future plans for the consortium 

Looking ahead, Dr Makoge noted that 2025 would mark the 10th anniversary of HIGHER Women Consortium. This, she said, will mark a decade of mentorship, capacity building, writing articles, organizing retreats, and inspiring women to pursue their research dreams. 

“Next year will be a celebration of 10 years of empowering women in health research,” she said, adding that the programme’s success is a testament to the resilience of both mentors and mentees.

“My message to the mentees is simple. They embrace the opportunities, build their capacity, and take advantage of the support offered by their mentors. For the mentors, the task is equally clear. They have to guide, uplift, and inspire the next generation of women health researchers,” she concluded. 

Mentees hail programme 

According to the mentees, the impact of this mentorship is already evident in their career as researchers.

One of the mentees, Ghansenyuy Salome Yuwong, expressed her excitement about the workshop. She noted that the workshop will help her improve her networking skills, which had been a challenge in the past, particularly on the international stage. 

Similarly, Essiben-Macky Stella, another mentee, appreciated the opportunity to learn from experienced researchers, emphasising the importance of mentorship in navigating the complexities of health research. 

She also highlighted how the holistic mentorship programme helps mentees create a balance between their personal, professional, and research lives.

Objectives, impact of the workshop 

The 7th annual workshop of HIGHER Women Consortium, according to the women, aimed at building the capacity of women in health research.

It aimed at providing both mentors and mentees with essential skills, such as developing a strong resume and crafting an impactful research statement. 

Participants were also equipped with tools for networking and collaboration, two critical components in health research. 

The workshop also emphasised the importance of artificial intelligence as a tool for research, empowering participants with cutting-edge knowledge to advance their work in an increasingly digital world.

About HIGHER Women Consortium

HIGHER Women Consortium was created in 2015 with the aim of attracting and retaining more women in the profession of innovation, creativity competitiveness in the field of health research in Cameroon. 

The HIGHER Women Consortium comprising of career-successful senior Cameroonian women health researchers. The headquarters of the consortium is at the Biotechnology Centre of the University of Yaounde I. The vision of the consortium is to detect early-to mid-career researchers, mentors from the Africa.

Consortium members hold prominent positions in academic institutions, research organizations, government agencies, the private sector and others. 

HIGHER Women Consortium has a flagship programme known as The Mentor-Protégée Programme, MPP. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3239 of Tuesday September 24, 2024