Samia lauds Tanzanian paediatric award winner
TANZANIA: PRESIDENT Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan has extended her sincere congratulation to the country’s renowned Paediatrics and Child Health Specialist, Professor Karim Manji of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) for being bestowed the Alumni Award of Merit by the Havard T.H Chan School of Public Health.
“I extend my sincere congratulation to Professor Karim Manji, a Paediatrician, lecturer and researcher in the field of children health for being awarded the Alumni Award of Merit by the Havard T.H Chan School of Public Health,” President Dr Samia wrote on her X account (formerly Twitter) yesterday.
“We are proud of your dedications to our country, your research, advice and mentorship to hundreds of students who now are doctors in this vital area of health in our country,” President Dr Samia noted that for over 30 years Prof Manji has been serving as the doctor, lecturer and an exemplary public servant at the National Muhimbili Hospital and MUHAS.
The Alumni Award of Merit is a prestigious accolade that celebrates exceptional contributions to the field of public health.
It has been bestowed to Prof Manji in recognition of his decades-long commitment to advancing healthcare in Tanzania.
Professor Manji is a professor in Paediatrics and Child Health at MUHAS.
Since 1992, the award has honoured dozens of Harvard Chan School’s distinguished alumni for their outstanding contributions to public health, with about 104 awardees so far.
While the majority of recipients come from the United States around 90, the award has also recognised individuals from diverse geographic regions outside of the US honorees.
They have included individuals from South Africa, Nigeria, Japan, Hawaii, Taiwan, Beirut, India, Haiti, Vietnam, Germany, the UK and Canada. Prof Manji’s recognition comes as an inaugural gift to East Africa and Tanzania.
“This award is a humbling recognition of a journey that began with a deep sense of responsibility toward the most vulnerable, our newborns,” said Manji in an interview with the local health media outlet.
He emphasised the collective efforts of healthcare professionals, staff and families in achieving this goal. “I stayed committed to my institution and my nation.
It means devotion and this award means that we in Africa, in Tanzania, at MUHAS are capable of the highest achievements,’’ Prof Manji said.
The award consists of a citation, which is presented at an award ceremony, typically a celebratory dinner held in conjunction with the annual Harvard Chan School Alumni Weekend.
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Prof Manji has served his entire career at MUHAS and has been a key figure in capacity building for the institution and human resource for health development in the East African Country.
In press statement MUHAS said that throughout his career Prof Manji has strived to deliver exceptional patient-centered care and conduct groundbreaking research on child nutrition, infectious diseases and child development challenges.
“With over 260 peerreviewed publications, several clinic trials, sponsored research projects and mentorship to more than 170 paediatrics residents Prof Manji has shaped neonatal health in Tanzania and beyond,” read the statement.
Prof Manji has been at the forefront of various research projects including one of his most notable works is the HPTN-046 multicentre study, which significantly influenced global policy on the use of oral Nevirapine among breastfeeding infants of HIV-positive mothers.
Furthermore, Prof Manji has conducted observational studies on neonatal hypothermia, Vitamin D deficiency and the continuum of care for sick and small newborns.
These studies have provided valuable insights into these critical health issues in Tanzania.
In recent years, he has also been actively involved in raising awareness and conducting research on Autism in Children and Rare Diseases in Tanzania.
He is scheduled to receive the award on September 27, this year in Boston, USA becoming the first recipient from Tanzania.
