College of Medicine doctor gets AU Young Scientist Award

A lecturer at the University of Malawi’s College of Medicine associate professor Fanuel Lampiao has won an African Union (AU) Best Young Scientist Award and walked away with a $5 000 (about K1.5 million) cash prize, the National Commission of Science and Technology (NCST) has announced.

NCST board chairperson Professor Sosten Chiotha made the announcement at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe on Wednesday where the commission awarded best secondary school pupils and schools that excelled in the sciences in the past year.

During the ceremony, Lampiao was presented the award for research on the use of traditional herb Acacia nilotica as a male contraceptive.

“The acacia was found to reduce sperm motility…but the effect is irreversible,” said Lampiao.

He said he engaged in the research to encourage men to use contraceptives as they are more contraceptive methods for women.

Said Chiotha: “The African Union category was competed for by Malawians under the age of 40.”

The commission also announced that Likuni Boys Secondary School of Lilongwe is the overall best science teaching school for 2011 whereas Madalitso Nkhutabasa was named overall best science student for the year.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Lonely Magreta encouraged students to work hard in science subjects.

“Science and technology is the main driver of the economy,” she said.