Updated 23 August 2012

Fatema Thawer-Esmail has had her scientific endeavours rewarded by winning an award that recognizes African women's contribution to science.

UCT doctoral student Fatema Thawer-Esmail was one of 10 African women whose work in the scientific field was recently acknowledged with a major international fellowship, replete with prize money of South African Rands One Hundred Seventy Thousand (ZAR.170,000).

The L'Oréal-UNESCO Regional Fellowships for Women in Science (FWIS) in Sub-Saharan Africa is given to women scientists up to age 40 who are working towards their PhDs. The fellowship seeks to remove one of the major obstacles to women pursuing a career in science - access to funds.

Thawer-Esmail hails from Dar es Salaam and qualified as a medical doctor in Tanzania before coming to UCT to study dermatology. Here she is a full-time research student, facilitates undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in the Division of Dermatology, and is in the process of completing a clinical-education course.

Fatema is a Tanzanian, currently 33 years old, born and raised in Da es Salaam.  She is the first of seven children.  Her parents are also from Tanzania. 

Fatema is a great believer of the quote - Be the change you want to see in the world.  Ever since she can remember she has always had a burning desire to positively influence lives of people around her; her priority being women and youth. As a high school student, she initiated the Girls Science club that facilitated creative scientific activities, girls’ interschool competitions and social work assisting the under privileged.
Fatema grew up at a time when a female pursuing higher education was uncommon due to cultural constraints. Thanks to her great parents who have always given priority to education, despite them not getting an opportunity themselves Fatema managed to study further. She graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree from The University of Dar es Salaam in 2004, completing her internship in 2006.

During this time she initiated the Jaffery Medical students association which assisted community health profession students in various ways and instilled community service in these students. Some of the activities they undertook include teaching first aid skills to community mothers and teachers, providing voluntary service at Mediwell clinic, increasing health awareness in the community through stage programs (eg. AIDS awareness night) and publishing a tri annual health bulletin. Thereafter, her very supportive husband who is also a medical doctor and Fatema were very kindly supported by Fatema’s in laws enabling them to specialise in South Africa where she trained in Dermatology from 2007- 2011 under the University of Cape Town.

The skin forms the largest organ of the human body. Fatema’s passion in Dermatology lies in learning the art of using the skin as a window to medicine. Many systemic illnesses manifest in the skin. Fatema is fascinated with the sophisticated make up of the skin that the creator so intelligently designed to enable this organ to perform its function in such a perfect way!

During her clinical training she also took up a MMed project on the clinical and genetic categorization of Atopic eczema. The excellent mentorship she received from Professor Gail Todd enabled this research to grow much further such that it was upgraded to a PhD in February 2011.  She plans to complete her PhD by December 2013 after which she would like to go back to Dar es salaam where she wishes to assist in establishing a Division of Dermatology in the University of Dar es salaam.

Additionally apart from being a full time research student Fatema undertakes undergraduate and post graduate teaching in the Division of Dermatology. She also runs some special clinics and academic meetings of the division.  She is currently also doing a clinical education course with the University of Cape Town.  She is part of the mentorship program as a mentee at the European Academy Of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Fatema is involved quite actively with Cape Town communities in uplifting moral, spiritual, educational and health standards of South African women and youth.  She is currently the Youth coordinator for The Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre in Cape Town that also participates in the youth parliament discussions for youth development.

The reason she chose South Africa was because of the fact that it combines the first-hand experience of a  3rd World country and technology of a First world country.  It is near home, and the training is more relevant to the African setting. 

Fatema advises, “I feel the important components of success are to have a noble intention ,work hard towards your goal and then trust in Allah (s.w.t). I urge our community members to pursue higher education especially in scientific fields.  We lead the world in Science once upon a time.  The most basic concepts come from the 5th and 6th Imams (as) .Lets revive that. Remember that the first verse revealed to the holy prophet(PBUH) was "READ".

Furthermore, I would like to urge the youth to be open to change BUT don’t let go of your values! We belong to an outstanding religion; we are the ambassadors of Al Mahdi in the scientific world.  So let’s keep up to our high standards of excelling in academics together and hand in hand with uplifting our moral values and spirituality.”

Dr Asgharali Moledina, President of The World Federation, “I would like to take this opportunity to salute, applaud and congratulate you for your tremendous efforts on attaining an important milestone in your life. We wish you success in all your future endeavours and pray to Allah (swt) to grant you long and healthy life so that you may continue serving Humanity and the Nation at large with compassion and joy.”