A young scientist from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape is determined to fight hospital-acquired infections by introducing eco-friendly solutions to purify the air in healthcare facilities.
While people typically go to hospitals to get better, sometimes being in a health facility exposes them to hospital-acquired infections, which pose significant risks to vulnerable patients.
These include lower respiratory tract infections, surgical site infections, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections.
Research estimates that 12% of patients admitted to hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa acquire an infection.
Twenty-four-year-old Yolanda Mngcongo’s innovative research won her the FameLab South Africa 2024 competition, that gives young scientists a platform to communicate their work to a non-specialist audience.
Mngcongo, who is pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Health at Nelson Mandela University (NMU), will represent South Africa in the FameLab International Final on 29 November. We caught up with her to learn more about her research and what winning this competition means to her.
Tell us about your research
My research focuses on how the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants can be combined with nanoscience (study of objects) to combat modern healthcare challenges by developing green synthesised nanoparticles using medicinal plants known for their ability to fight bacteria. These nanoparticles will be incorporated into healthcare ventilation systems to purify the air by capturing and inhibiting the growth of airborne pathogens which contribute to hospital-acquired infections. This research aims to contribute to the sustainable development goal which promotes good health and well-being for all.
What inspired your research on Indigenous medicine?
Growing up, I knew about how indigenous medicine was used by our grandparents. For instance, to treat colds, they would use umhlonyane (Artemisia afra). However, I was too young to understand the healing power of indigenous medicinal plants. In 2020, my grandmother Sarah (75) contracted an infection at the hospital which she did not have when she was admitted. Unfortunately, she never got better and she sadly passed away. I never understood how she contracted an infection at the hospital. In the same year, I learned about healthcare-acquired infections during an epidemiology module (study of how often diseases occur) when I was doing my third year in environmental health. Fortunately, when I decided to further my studies in 2023, I learned about how indigenous medicine can be used with modern science to develop solutions to various problems. This is where I drew my inspiration for my research to develop an eco-friendly solution for the purification of air in healthcare facilities. I believe that this is a step forward to making healthcare facilities spaces for true healing.
How far along is your research? What are the next steps?
My research is progressing, I have synthesised and characterised the nanoparticles using methods like ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) to confirm the formulation of the nanoparticles and dynamic light scattering. I also use Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to evaluate the chemical compounds of the synthesised nanoparticles and high-resolution transmission microscopy to evaluate the core size and shape of the nanoparticles. These are very important analyses to ensure that the nanoparticles have the desired characteristics to meet the intended purpose. The next steps involve testing their effectiveness in capturing airborne pathogens and determining how well they perform in the real healthcare environment. This will be the key phase of my research, which I aim to complete in the coming months at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) labs in Pretoria where my co-supervisor is based.
How do you feel about competing at a global level?
I am incredibly excited, it’s not just an opportunity to present my research on an international stage but also to learn from the best in the field of science communication. I look forward to the connections I will make, the new ideas I will be exposed to and how this experience will shape the next phase of my career. Even though the competition is online, it still feels like I am connecting globally which is a mixture of excitement and nerves. Mostly I am eager to represent South Africa on an international platform. I am looking forward to engaging with fellow scientists from around the world, hearing their ideas and sharing our work in a way that transcends borders. This is a unique opportunity to showcase my research and make international connections that could lead to future collaborations.
How important is it for you to win the international competition?
Winning would be an incredible achievement, especially on such a global scale. While the competition is online, the impact of winning still carries a lot of weight giving me a stronger platform to continue raising awareness about the importance of merging indigenous knowledge with modern science. This would not be an achievement to me only but to all the people supporting me, friends, family, supervisors, mentors and the whole institution. On the other hand, it is a call to other young people to pursue studies and careers in science and innovation. Winning on an international stage would open up many doors for me professionally, providing more opportunities to collaborate, present my research and access resources that would take this work to the next level. It would also be a great motivation to continue with science communication in a way that will be understandable and relevant to people. – Health-e News
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