Patience Manjengwa, a public health specialist from Zimbabwe and PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria, is a dynamic leader in epidemiology. With over a decade of experience, she works with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in South Africa, spearheading innovative HIV prevention programs for key and vulnerable populations. Her efforts have driven the world’s largest PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) rollout and introduced cutting-edge HIV testing strategies.
At the onset of COVID-19, Patience stepped up as a senior epidemiologist, facilitating the rollout of contact tracing programs for community health workers and transitioning the process to include hospitalization reporting for patients. Her swift and strategic response played a vital role in mitigating the pandemic’s impact in vulnerable communities.
Patience is deeply dedicated to empowering marginalized communities. She founded LittleSprogs Association, an NGO that tackles poverty’s impact on women and children by providing essential resources and championing equitable healthcare. Additionally, she volunteers her time to offer psychosocial support to survivors of domestic violence.
Rooted in her experiences growing up in rural Zimbabwe, Patience is dedicated to addressing health disparities in marginalized communities. Her doctoral research employs Discrete Choice Experiments to explore men's preferences in HIV services, aiming to enhance male engagement and improve health outcomes for women—addressing a critical blind spot in epidemic control. She aims to influence policies and design culturally relevant interventions, positively impacting millions of women across Africa by promoting shared responsibility in health and equitable healthcare access.
