A programme manager from Sightsavers has been accepted onto a World Health Organization mentoring programme that empowers women to become leaders in the fight against neglected tropical diseases.

Sightsavers’ Samantha Nyathi, who works in Zimbabwe, is taking part in the Mwele Malecela Mentorship Programme, which was established in memory of the late World Health Organization (WHO) director and women’s rights activist Dr Mwele Malecela. The scheme will enable Samantha to develop new skills that will help her to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

As part of her mentorship, Samantha will receive one-to-one coaching sessions with Dr Taroub Faramand, the founder and president of WI-HER, a woman-owned small business that aims to build sustainable health care, workforces and economic systems in rural communities around the world.

Samantha will also benefit from a cash award, access to skill-building courses, as well as opportunities to attend conferences and events where she can connect with other global health professionals.

Samantha Nyathi said: “I anticipate that this programme will broaden my expertise across a range of NTDs beyond the eye disease trachoma, which has been my primary focus. I’m aiming to develop skills in conducting research and publishing findings in the field of NTDs, while progressively positioning myself as a leader in this field.”

NTDs are a set of 21 infectious diseases that affect more than one billion people around the world, causing painful disabilities, disfigurement and death when left untreated. Sightsavers is working to treat and prevent five of the most common NTDs across many countries in sub-Saharan Africa.