Dr Maftah, who is the section head of the Nuclear Medicine at the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI), shared her life journey in science during an exclusive interview with The Citizen recently.
She was interviewed after scooping a Woman in Science Award from the Ladies in Islam organisation, which is a local nongovernmental organisation, in recognition of her contribution towards improving the lives of Tanzanians through her profession.
Dr Maftah observes that currently, there are two women nuclear science specialists in Tanzania, but she remains the only practicing professional.
“Dr Agatha Katua is another professional, but she isn’t practicing the profession. Having been employed with the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) she opted to take administrative roles,” she says during the interview.
She says demand for experts in the nuclear science profession remains high in Tanzania, especially for women in order to give female patients a wider selection of experts who would attend them when attending health facilities for treatment.
Dr Maftah says despite the government’s efforts to increase the number experts by taking several youth to train in the profession, yet the need for more women in the profession remains high.
“Schoolgirls should tap the opportunity and fulfil their dreams to become nuclear scientists. They should do away with rumours that they will not raise children and die young because all the necessary and important safety precautionary measures are well taught during trainings,” she says.
According to her, in Tanzania alone, the number of professional women is low compared to many developed countries.
Acknowledging that her science subjects are complex, Dr. Mafta says, "Women who wish to study science must be fully committed, focused, and dedicated to their studies in order to be successful."
“What students get today is not our day. The digital age makes it possible to discover and access sufficient technology through search engines like Google. Also, there are more successful women today than they were then,” she adds, urging young people to be disciplined, purposeful and disciplined to be successful.
Becoming a Nuclear Specialist
Dr. Mafta moved to the Department of Nuclear Medicine from 2006 to 2007 and worked at ORCI's Department of Oncology.
Between 1999 and 2004, she received her Bachelor of Medicine (MD) degree from Muhimbili University of Dar es Salaam, University of Health and Associated Sciences (Mujas), then entered the institution.
Then she did an internship at Muhimbili National Specialty Hospital from 2004 to 2006.
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