Elizabeth Ngugi
Died	March/April 2015
Nationality	Kenyan
Alma mater	Columbia Pacific University
Scientific career
Institutions	Kenyatta National Hospital, University of Nairobi, University of Manitoba

Elizabeth Ngugi (died 2015) was a Kenyan Professor of Community Health at the University of Nairobi, and a nurse by trade. Her major contributions to her university's program was her research and work with local prostitutes to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission. ^[1] Ngugi is described as the first Kenyan nurse to become a professor. ^[2]

Early career and education

Ngugi started nursing at the Kenyatta National Hospital in 1960, as the Sister in Charge of paediatric health. ^[2] In 1979 she was promoted to deputy chief nursing officer at the Ministry of Health. ^{[2] [3]} In 1981, while still practicing as a nurse, Ngugi presented a paper about the emerging, new role of nurses in the Kenyan health system. She emphasized that the role of a nurse is not only caring for the patient, but engaging with and caring for the patient's family members as well. ^[4] Ngugi studied at Columbia Pacific University for her BA and Masters in Nursing Administration from 1983 to 1985, and earned a PhD in social work in 1989. ^{[5] [6]} In 1986 she became a lecturer in the University of Nairobi, School of Public Health and was eventually promoted to the position of Kenyan national AIDS coordinator. ^{[2] [6]}

Work against HIV/AIDS

Ngugi was involved in an international collaboration in Nairobi to engage with sex workers and help them to tackle sexual transmitted diseases. ^{[1] [3] [6]} She joined in 1984 as a nurse, and made efforts to reach out to sex workers instead of stigmatising them. ^{[6] [7]} Much of Ngugi's research focused on these vulnerable communities, and she provided them with medical care, advice and free condoms in return for participation. ^[6] She was involved in research that studied the efficacy of a contraceptive sponge in preventing new HIV infections about Nairobi sex workers. The study found no evidence in the effectiveness of the contraceptive sponge in reducing infections. ^[8] By helping the sex workers to collectively demand condom use from their clients, their utilisation has soared from 4% to 90%, even though men often offer more money for unprotected sex. ^[7] Her empowering approach has been praised by public health experts. ^[7]

In 1984, Ngugi in collaboration with Frank Plummer from the University of Manitoba, helped establish the Majengo Clinic in Majengo, Kenya. The clinic has gone on to serve as a site for a multitude of HIV/AIDS research and as a site for sex workers to receive treatment and prevention services for sexually transmitted diseases. ^[9] Through this clinic, Ngugi worked in the forefront of treating sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea and chlamydia. ^[10] Ngugi and Frank Plummer from Manitoba published a study indicating levels of long-lived HIV resistance among Kenyan sex workers who work in Majengo, Nairobi. ^{[11] [12]} Ngugi decried the fact that these women contribute so much to research but are still living in poverty and must sell their bodies to survive. ^[12]

In 1991 she became director of the collaborative HIV/AIDS effort with the University of Manitoba, a role she held until 2006. ^[2] Ngugi was promoted to Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba in her final year of directorship. ^[2] In 1992 Ngugi established HerStory (initially as the Kenya Voluntary Women Rehabilitation Centre) to support sex workers to escape prostitution with training, support and microfinance. ^{[3] [13] [14] [15]} Now HerStory also looks after AIDS orphans. ^[3]

In 1992, Ngugi with Peter Piot, Jonathan Mann, Bila Kapita, Robert Colebunders co-authored "AIDS IN AFRICA: A manual for physicians" and published it through WHO for the purpose of aiding physicians in diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The manual also served as an educational material for physicians on what should be expected and on the possible transmission methods of HIV. ^[16]

Ngugi established the University of Nairobi Centre of HIV Prevention and Research in 2006. ^[2] She also led the implementation of government efforts against HIV/AIDS including the building of ten drop-in centres for vulnerable populations in Northern/Eastern Kenya. ^[2]

Awards

For her contributions to public health in Kenya Ngugi has been awarded many accolades, including:

• 2004 UN Kenyan of the Year. ^{[2] [17]}
• 2004/5 Order of the Golden Warrior Presidential Award. ^{[2] [13]}

Personal life

Ngugi has a son who practises law in Nairobi. ^[3]

References

Scholia has a profile for Elizabeth Ngugi (Q78592927).