In March 2023, Dr Rebecca Nantanda and two other Union members founded the Childhood Pneumonia Working Group, with the aim to drive advocacy and capacity building for childhood pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries.
Rebecca is a paediatrician, Senior Research Scientist and Assistant Director (technical programmes) at Makerere University Lung Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Her research focuses on child and adolescent lung health and related risk factors, including air pollution in low and middle-income countries.
Rebecca is clinically active and involved in training of pre-service and in-service healthcare workers, and research supervision of graduate students. Rebecca is the Co-Chair of The Union’s Childhood Pneumonia Working Group, founding member of the African Infant and Pre-school Lung Function Working Group under the Pan African Thoracic Society, member of the European Respiratory Society and Past President of the Uganda Paediatrics Association. She is also a fellow of the UK Medical Research Council/Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Africa Research Leaders.
As part of our celebration of International Women’s Day, we learn more about Rebecca, her passion for child lung health research and why she wants to teach others – in her own words.
What is your role at The Union and what does it entail?
“I am a Co-Chair of the Childhood Pneumonia Working Group, with Dr Matthew Kelly from University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, United States and Dr Eric McCollum from Johns Hopkins Global Program in Respiratory Sciences, South Africa.
“The three of us, with support from other members, founded the working group, which aims to make The Union the intellectual home for advocacy and capacity building focused on childhood pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries. We do this through mobilising our members to advocate for greater prioritisation of childhood pneumonia, identifying funding sources, co-ordinating sessions at The Union World Conference on Lung Health, organising scientific webinars and meetings and disseminating the latest childhood pneumonia updates.”
What inspired you to focus your research on lung health in children?
“Ever since I was an undergraduate medical student, I loved paediatrics, and I had no doubt that I would specialise in that discipline. Although my first piece of child lung health research was on childhood pneumonia, my interest was really ignited during my PhD training.
“I investigated the common reasons for cough and breathing difficulties among children less than five years and found that four in 10 of such children had asthma syndrome but had been diagnosed as pneumonia and given antibiotics. This motivated me to conduct more research to improve lung health in children, including mitigating early life risk factors like air pollution. I have very supportive mentors and colleagues that inspire and challenge me.”
Why are you passionate about educating others?
“Despite respiratory problems, including pneumonia and asthma, being the leading cause of both communicable and non-communicable diseases in children, there is a severe shortage of scientists focusing on child lung health, particularly in Africa. There is so much that scientists and clinicians can do to address lung health problems in children.
“I therefore use every opportunity to interest others in paediatric lung health research and care and increase awareness about lung health in the communities.
“Additionally, I am what I am because of others who train, educate, support and motivate me, and I want to do the same for the upcoming generations.”
What would you say to encourage the next generation of lung health experts?
“Do not stop learning, collaborate effectively, be open-minded and identify what area you are passionate about, because passion is a key driver of research and related activities.”