The Obada-Prize 2021 has awarded Prof Marleen Temmerman, Chair, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department and Director, Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University’s Medical College, East Africa as this year’s winner in the category of ‘Distinguished Researcher.’
The Obada-Prize is an international award that recognizes and encourages innovative and interdisciplinary research that cuts across traditional boundaries and paradigms.
Initiated as a recognition of his excellence Professor Abdel-Shafy Obada, the award aims to foster universal values of excellence, creativity, justice, democracy, and progress and to promote the scientific, technological and humanistic achievements that advance and improve our world.
Acknowledging her appointment, Prof Marleen said; “I am humbled to have been awarded the Obada-Prize 2021 in the category of distinguished researcher. I appreciate the honour bestowed on me by the committee and I will continue to strive to play my role in the advancement of women, adolescents and children health and rights not only in the East Africa region but across the continent.”
The Obada-Prize has three prizes supported by the African Academy of Sciences. These are the distinguished researcher, young distinguished researcher (aged 40 years and below) and undergraduate and post graduate students.
Prof Lukoye Atwoli, Dean, Aga Khan University’s Medical College, East Africa said; “We are very proud of Prof Marleen’s Obada-Prize 2021 award. This demonstrates her unique achievements over the years in clinical, research and mentoring experience where she has been at the forefront of several research projects in the area of women’s and girls’ health and rights in Kenya and across Africa.”
Prof Marleen is a well-recognized global leader in women, child & adolescent health. She brings academic, technical, political, governance and leadership skills to the table as well as diplomacy, advocacy, fundraising, training and clinical expertise.
Last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded Prof Marleen the “Moran of the order of the Burning Spear,” MBS, for over 35 years investing in health and education in Kenya.
Recently, she was awarded the “Professional Contribution and Networks Award” during the 45th Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society Annual Scientific Congress in recognition of her work in advocating for sexual and reproductive health and well-being of women in Kenya.
In addition, Prof Marleen is the AKU-UNESCO Chair of Youth Leadership in Science, Health, Gender and Education and Chair of the Pumwani Maternity Hospital Board.
Previously, she served as Director of the Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR) at the World Health Organization (WHO), in Geneva (2012-15). During her tenure, she provided strategic leadership for WHO towards the development of the technical content for the Global Strategy on Every Women, Every Child, Every Adolescent 2016-2030.
