Paediatrician | Womanity

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Helen Nabwera, a paediatrician, physician-scientist, and global health leader whose work bridges clinical care, community empowerment, and pioneering research in maternal and child health. Currently based at Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya, she works in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Centre of Excellence for Women and Child Health, the Co-PI PRETERM Africa Study, and is a Physician Scientist and MRC/FCDO African Research Leader. Dr. Nabwera shares her personal journey from growing up in rural western Kenya, where exposure to childhood illness and community hardship shaped her calling, to becoming a leading advocate for vulnerable newborns and a mentor to emerging researchers across Africa and beyond. She takes us through the heart of her work in preterm birth and early childhood development, highlighting the systemic and psychosocial factors that affect maternal and infant health in low-resource settings. Hear about her groundbreaking research on mother-to-mother peer support for families with low birth weight babies, and the vital role of nutrition in long-term child survival and development. She emphasizes that sustainable child health cannot be achieved through clinical care alone; it requires integrated community action, maternal wellbeing, and addressing societal misconceptions. We also explore Dr. Nabwera’s experience navigating the complexities of career, motherhood, cultural expectations, and leadership as a woman in science. She offers honest reflections on guilt, balance, and the importance of asking for help, while also advocating for structural changes in academic and research spaces to better support women’s advancement. Her thoughts on the role of culture, family, and resilience reveal a leader grounded in compassion and driven by purpose. Dr. Nabwera also pays tribute to key women in her life including her mother and fellow trailblazing scientists who inspired her journey and now fuel her mission to support the next generation. She leaves us with a powerful message to young women across the continent: “Find your inner peace—your dreams will emerge from there. An then you know you're going to get to where you need to get.” Whether you are in medicine, science, education, or simply navigating your path, this conversation with Dr. Nabwera is a moving testament to courage, humility, and impact. Tune in for more…

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July 24, 2025

Dr. Helen Nabwera – Paediatrics & Child Health – Aga Khan University – Network Growth

This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Helen Nabwera, a paediatrician, physician-scientist, and global health leader whose work bridges clinical care, community empowerment, and pioneering rese...

In this episode of Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Candice Royal, a paediatrician and allergy specialist, who shares her compelling journey through medicine, motherhood, and meaning. Dr. Royal reflects on her early desire to become a paediatrician, a dream seeded in childhood and fulfilled through hard work, resilience, and a deep commitment to helping children thrive. She details the unexpected path that led her into the emerging field of allergology, where she now plays a vital role in treating some of the most common and overlooked chronic conditions affecting children today, for example, allergies and eczema, particularly within the South African context. Dr. Royal gives us insight into her dual working worlds. Her private practice, which she intentionally designed to be a nurturing and empowering space for families, and her work in the public sector at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, where she reconnects with the purpose of medicine in its purest form. Her reflections on building a practice from the ground up, one that is as emotionally supportive as it is medically sound, provide insights into compassionate healthcare entrepreneurship. We explore how gender dynamics have shaped her medical journey, especially the pressures and biases she faced as a mother while training to become a specialist. Dr. Royal speaks candidly about overcoming doubts, often self-imposed, and encourages women to support each other rather than compete, especially in male-dominated sectors. Her story is a bold testament to the belief that women can be doctors, business owners, mothers, athletes - and excel at all of it. In her role with the Allergy Foundation of South Africa, Dr. Royal also champions access to accurate, evidence-based information to combat medical misinformation, especially around childhood allergies. She discusses how women, particularly mothers, are at the frontline of their children's health and need more systemic support to fulfil that role effectively. Beyond her professional commitments, Dr. Royal shares personal anecdotes, from training for Comrades Marathons to raising her children. She illustrates how life, like medicine, is best navigated with perseverance, passion, and a sense of purpose. Dr. Royal weaves a powerful message: pursue your passions relentlessly, build supportive networks, embrace imperfection, and believe in the possibility of balancing a life of impact and joy. Tune in for more…

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May 29, 2025

Dr. Candice Royal – Paediatrician and Allergy Specialist in Private Practice – Brave Choices

In this episode of Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks with Dr. Candice Royal, a paediatrician and allergy specialist, who shares her compelling journey through medicine, motherhood, and meaning. Dr. Royal refle...

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Dr. Helen Nabwera – Paediatrics & Child Health – Aga Khan University – Network Growth

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Dr. Candice Royal – Paediatrician and Allergy Specialist in Private Practice – Brave Choices

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Tag: Paediatrician

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Dr. Helen Nabwera – Paediatrics & Child Health – Aga Khan University – Network Growth

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Dr. Candice Royal – Paediatrician and Allergy Specialist in Private Practice – Brave Choices

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