TRAILBLAZER
Writer: Silusapho Nyanda
Youngster leads provincial epidemiology T
he Coronavirus
for Communicable
as well as environmental
(COVID-19) pan-
Diseases’ (NICD) North
and socio-economic
demic has ex-
West Division of Public
factors. In addition to
posed South Africans to
Health Surveillance and
these, I analyse data
a number of lesser known
Response, only joined
from healthcare facilities
career fields – including
the NICD last year and
on different diseases.
epidemiology.
because of the global
Epidemiologists are scientists who study outbreaks of disease.
“In a nutshell, I put all
pandemic, has had a
these factors together
baptism by fire.
to find the best ways to
His job includes pro-
deal with diseases like
They examine data and
viding updated daily
look for patterns that can
statistics on COVID-19
tell them more about the
cases to the office of the
causes of the disease,
Minister of Health, Zweli
Data analysis
its characteristics and
Mkhize. Maruma was the
Maruma’s
patterns. This information
first person appointed to
job is 80
helps develop strategies
the North West province’s
percent data
to improve public health
pandemic response
analysis. “I can
services.
team.
spend eight
COVID-19,” he says.
As an epidemiologist,
to 10 hours a
cated professionals – like
he studies the impact of
day analysing
27-year-old Wellington
diseases at a population
statistics.
Maruma – have played
level.
These highly edu-
a vital role in helping
“Whereas doctors
government understand
deal with diseases on a
COVID-19 and formulate
patient-to-patient basis,
appropriate responses.
I investigate the overall
Baptism by fire
impact of disease on the population. In my
Maruma, an infectious
analysis of disease, I look
disease epidemiologist
at all the factors that
at the National Institute
might affect its spread,
30
Wellington Maruma is an infectious disease epidemiologist.
Public Sector Manager • September 2020
