Youngster leads provincial epidemiology

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pan demic has exposed South Africans to a number of lesser known career fields – including epidemiology.

Epidemiologists are scientists who study outbreaks of disease. They examine data and look for patterns that can tell them more about the causes of the disease, its characteristics and patterns. This information helps develop strategies to improve public health services.

These highly edu cated professionals – like 27-year-old Wellington Maruma – have played a vital role in helping government understand COVID-19 and formulate appropriate responses.

Baptism by fire

Maruma, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases’ (NICD) North West Division of Public Health Surveillance and Response, only joined the NICD last year and because of the global pandemic, has had a baptism by fire.

His job includes pro viding updated daily statistics on COVID-19 cases to the office of the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize. Maruma was the first person appointed to the North West province’s pandemic response team.

As an epidemiologist, he studies the impact of diseases at a population level.

“Whereas doctors deal with diseases on a patient-to-patient basis, I investigate the overall impact of disease on the population. In my analysis of disease, I look at all the factors that might affect its spread, as well as environmental and socio-economic factors. In addition to these, I analyse data from healthcare facilities on different diseases.

“In a nutshell, I put all these factors together to find the best ways to deal with diseases like COVID-19,” he says.

Data analysis

Maruma’s job is 80 percent data analysis. “I can spend eight to 10 hours a day analysing statistics.

Wellington Maruma is an infectious disease epidemiologist.

I look at data from Home Affa irs to see what has been listed as the cause of death. At the same time, I look at data from the Department of Health. Because the two depart ments have two different systems that they use to classify causes of death, at times I have to look at the two stated causes of death and then analyse them on my own to see if they are correct,” says Maruma.

As North West’s epidemi ologist, Maruma – along with other members of the provincial COVID-19 response team – de veloped the guidelines on how to manage the cases of people who test positive for COVID-19 and also how to trace the people who have been in close contact with them.

The guidelines devel oped by the provincial team were then taught to the district and subdistrict teams of the North West Department of Health. In addition, Maruma is also the brains behind developing the province’s database of COVID-19 positive patients.

Sample collections

Maruma says that during the outbreak of a disease, his job includes ensuring that sample collections run smoothly so that real-time data of what is happening is available and that appropriate actions can be taken without unnecessary delays.

“When there is an outbreak, I must make sure that the specific samples that need to be collected, are collected on time, delivered for testing on time and that they are tested on time.”

As the lead officer of the COVID-19 pandemic response for epidemiology in the province, Maruma works with the case management team to analyse the recovery and death rate of COVID-19 patients. The team is responsible for analysing the recovery rate and factors such as comorbidities which influence the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients. “In the cases of death, we look at what factors play a role in the deaths. For example, we would look at common primary diagnoses among those who die of COVID-19 and whether the dead had any comorbidities. This is very key in determining if one died of COVID-19 or another illness.”

He explains that extreme care is taken to ask the right questions to determine that people said to have died as a result of COVID-19, are indeed casualties of the virus, before the data is sent to the Minister’s office.

“I need to apply my mind and ask ‘When did this person die?’, ‘When were they diagnosed?’ and ‘Is it really a COVID-19 death?’ before, as a province, we declare it as a COVID-19 death.”

Another of Maruma’s important responsibilities is ensuring that there are enough ventilators, equipment and beds at hospitals.

Maruma works with eight people, two of whom are with the World Health Organisation and another two who are Cuban doctors brought in to assist South Africa during the pandemic.

Becoming an epidemiologist

It takes many years to qualify as an epidemiologist. Educational requirements include a senior certificate with matric exemption and a MBChB degree fro m a university.

Maruma holds a Master of Science in Epidemiol ogy from Witwatersrand University.

He was all set to study medicine when, towards the end of Grade 12, he attended a career day at Charlton Vos College and learnt about epidemiol ogy and other fields that combined his aptitude for numbers and love for science. After doing more research into the various options, he settled on epidemiology and biostatistics.

After completing his Honours degree through the Australian-registered Monash University, Maruma worked as a research assistant at the Aurum Institute while simultaneously pursuing his Master’s degree.