Dear Reader,
The week of September 21-25, 2020 was a global Fungal Disease Awareness Week but perhaps this fact wasn’t realized by some readers. THRiVE recognizes the importance of fungal diseases and two of our fellows have made it their lifelong commitment to carry on life saving research. They are recognized nationally and internationally for their research on fungal diseases. In this issue of THRiVE News Dr. David Meya reflects on his important work on cryptococcal meningitis, a major killer of patients living with HIV. All through his doctoral and post-doctoral training David Meya committed his research career to understanding this disease, transform its management, improve patient survival and quality of life. His work has had national, regional and global impact through policy change in patient management.
During the awareness week Dr Meya was recognized as one of the global top leading researchers on fungal diseases.
Richard Kwizera, a THRiVE doctoral fellow summarizes in this issue of THRiVE News the importance of fungal diseases which affect more than a billion people worldwide and 1.5 million deaths annually. Some of the fungal infections can be described as Neglected Tropical Diseases. Mr Kwizera is a member of the International Society of Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) Pan Africa Mycology Working Group
(PAMWG). The ISHAM PAMWG aims to provide a platform for all the leaders in the field on mycology from different African countries in order to initiate epidemiological studies, regional guidelines, and educational programs to increase the capacity/ expertise of African specialists in the early detection and treatment of fungal infections. Additionally, it is committed to advocacy activities to guide
policy makers to provide the necessary support for the care of patients with fungal infections in Africa. His work has helped to build laboratory capacity for mycology in Uganda. Richard Kwizera’s rise professionally to become a Manager of the Translational Laboratory at Makerere University a few weeks before the Fungal Disease awareness week was of great symbolic significance. Laboratory research on testing and treatment for fungal diseases may reach an all-time high and improve care for With our fellows continuing to excel THRiVE is very well positioned to contribute to enhancing capacity for fungal infections research and care.
THRIVE-NEWSLETTER-July-Sept 2020
