Nazira Karimo Vali Abdula (born 1969) is a pediatrician and politician from

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi ...

. She has served as Minister of Health in the government of

Filipe Nyusi Filipe Jacinto Nyusi (; born 12 February 1959) is a Mozambican politician serving as the fourth President of Mozambique since 2015. He is the current leader of FRELIMO, the party that has governed Mozambique since its independence from Portug ...

since January 19, 2015.

Biography

Abdula was born in the city of

Nampula Nampula is the capital city of Nampula Province in Northern Mozambique. With a population of 743,125 (2017 census), it is the third-largest city in Mozambique after Maputo and Matola. The city is located in the interior of Nampula Province, approx ...

Portuguese Mozambique Portuguese Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique) or Portuguese East Africa (''África Oriental Portuguesa'') were the common terms by which Mozambique was designated during the period in which it was a Portuguese colony. Portuguese Mozambique originally ...

in 1969. She completed her primary studies in and around Nampula before enrolling at the

Eduardo Mondlane University , image = , image_size = , former_names = , motto = , type = Public , established = 21 August 1962 , rector = Manuel Guilherme Júnior, PhD , students = 39,078 (2015) , undergrad = 35,809 , ...

, in

Maputo Maputo (), formerly named Lourenço Marques until 1976, is the capital, and largest city of Mozambique. Located near the southern end of the country, it is within of the borders with Eswatini and South Africa. The city has a population of 1,0 ...

, where she received her degree in medicine in 1993. Abdula began her medical residency at Maputo Central Hospital, with later work at São João do Porto Hospital in Portugal. She received her

Master's A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

Nutrition Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It provides organisms with nutrients, which can be metabolized to create energy and chemical structures. Failure to obtain sufficient ...

from Flinders University in Australia in 2006. Abdula worked as a general practitioner at Mavalane General Hospital from 1993 to 1997, where she participated in a program fighting

Malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

in the region. She also worked to combat a Cholera epidemic at Maputo Central Hospital in 1997. She later worked closely with the Catholic University of Mozambique and the Institute of Science and Health in Maputo and Beira.

Political life

Abdula was named Minister of Health on January 19, 2015, the first female minister of health in Mozambique since independence in 1975. In her role, she has worked on the fight against HIV/AIDS in Mozambique for the Nyusi government, who hopes to eliminate the disease by 2030. She has worked against the theft and sale of ilicit drugs as well as the sale and trafficking of counterfeit medications. Outside of her work with the government, Abdula has written several scientific articles about

antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microbes evolve mechanisms that protect them from the effects of antimicrobials. All classes of microbes can evolve resistance. Fungi evolve antifungal resistance. Viruses evolve antiviral resistance. P ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Abdula, Nazira 1969 births Living people Women government ministers of Mozambique Health ministers of Mozambique People from Nampula Province Eduardo Mondlane University alumni Flinders University alumni Mozambican pediatricians