| 17 June 2010 | | |
| Durban University of Technology’s Environmental Health Lecturer, Joy Kistnasamy has been awarded a National Paper Award from the South African Thoracic Society (SATS). The paper, titled The Relationship Between Asthma and Ambient Air Pollutants Among Primary School Students in Durban, South Africa, was awarded the SATS Best Publication in Pulmonology by SA Researchers in 2009. Kistnasamy and her fellow collaborators will receive the award of R10 000 at a Gala Dinner at the 2011 SATS and Critical Care Society Congress, at the Durban International Conference Centre, from 28-31 July. Prof Gill Ainslie, SATS Scholarship Selection Committee Chairperson said the best publication was adjudicated by a panel of senior researchers and pulmonologists. The applicant had to be the first author or a major contributor to the work. The 2009 award was awarded to Kistnasamy for a paper published in 2008. The application was made by SATS member, Prof Elvis Irusen. Kistnasamy said the paper was based on her Masters Research Project in Environmental Health which she completed in 2005. The research was a collaborative project together with UKZN’s Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine and the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan and various stakeholders from the South Durban Industrial Basin. She said: “I presented my Master’s research at the 4th International Children’s Health and the Environment Conference in Vienna, Austria, in June 2007. I was the only speaker from the African Continent. Eighty international researchers presented of which 20 top presentations were selected, of which I was one of them. I was then invited to publish in the peer reviewed scientific journal, International Journal of Environment and Health. The paper was published in 2008 and later submitted to the SATS for consideration in the appropriate award category. The research team included Prof Thomas Robins, Prof Rajen Naidoo, Prof Stuart Batterman, Dr Graciela Mentz, Caron Jack, and Prof Elvis Irusen. A special thanks to Prof Umesh Lalloo, the Principal, Settlers Primary School staff and students and the various funders. Proper planning and team effort played a vital role in this process and kudos to all involved.” She said the SATS monetary award will be used to further research in different spheres under environmental health. “I am very pleased, as the award is traditionally awarded to medical health research professionals. However, this research and the subsequent outputs would not have been possible without the guidance of my mentors and especially the collaborative effort from the UKZN and University of Michigan researchers, for their immense emotional and resource support, funding, dedication, leadership skills and expertise”. Kistnasamy said the research revealed a 52% prevalence of asthma amongst the sample group taken from Durban South Basin’s (SDB) Settlers Primary School. At the time, the asthma prevalence rate was the highest in world. The sample group made up of 50% African and 50% Indian learners. Kistnasamy said: “It was impossible to hold any particular industry responsible for deteriorating respiratory health of the community; however, increased lower respiratory symptoms were strongly and consistently associated with ambient levels of certain asthma inducing pollutants”. The outcome of the research resulted in a R6 million South and North Durban Health Study which has formed part of the National Government’s Multipoint Plan which includes Environmental Health as one of the key focus areas. The research findings has inspired the SDB community to become even more proactive, intensifying talks between government, surrounding industries, media, NPO’s and NGO’s like groundWork and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance. |
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