{"id":28330,"date":"2023-05-13T08:31:43","date_gmt":"2023-05-13T06:31:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anesvad.org\/?post_type=historia&p=28330"},"modified":"2025-07-15T09:27:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T07:27:29","slug":"vera-yata-researcher-and-head-of-team-assistants-liberia","status":"publish","type":"historia","link":"https:\/\/www.anesvad.org\/en\/historia\/vera-yata-researcher-and-head-of-team-assistants-liberia\/","title":{"rendered":"Vera Yata Walker: researcher and head of the team of assistants at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Introduction:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

As well as doing research work and supervising the team of assistants, Vera is in charge of carrying out Buruli ulcer testing at Liberia\u2019s main laboratory, where she has become a role model for the growing number of women entering the field of science. We talked to her about her life and professional experience<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n<\/section>\n\n

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    Laboratorio principal donde se detectan los casos de ETD en Liberia. En la foto vemos un m\u00f3dulo con una figura de un mono en el centro<\/figcaption>\n \n <\/figure>\n\n \n <\/li>\n\n \n
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    Exterior del Instituto Nacional de Salud P\u00fablica de Liberia con su acceso principal<\/figcaption>\n \n <\/figure>\n\n
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    Vera Yata Walker investigadora y responsable del equipo de asistentes del instituto nacional de salud p\u00fablica de Liberia<\/figcaption>\n \n <\/figure>\n \n <\/li>\n\n \n
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    Exterior del laboratorio principal de detecci\u00f3n de casos de ETD – MC en Liberia<\/figcaption>\n \n <\/figure>\n\n \n <\/li>\n\n \n <\/ul>\n\n
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    Anesvad Foundation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    Tell us about what your job involves, and what your main duties are?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Vera Yata Walker:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \n \n

    I\u2019m a lab researcher here at the main national laboratory in Charlesville. We conduct public health testing using the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response framework.

    We\u2019ve now decided to add Buruli ulcer testing to the many disease screenings we do here, so we\u2019re focusing on this disease<\/strong>. I\u2019m the person in charge of the lab and carrying out these tests.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Anesvad Foundation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    What\u2019s the process for testing for Buruli ulcer from when the samples are taken to when they\u2019re analysed?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Vera Yata Walker:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \n \n

    Well, we\u2019ve got our Riders for Health<\/em>. These are couriers on motorbikes that are fitted with a fridge to store the samples.<\/strong> So, when there\u2019s a possible

    Buruli ulcer sample at a health clinic, the clinic contacts Riders for Health<\/em> and they go and get the sample and bring it to our laboratory for testing.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Anesvad Foundation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    So Buruli ulcer testing is a new procedure; what does that mean for those of you working in the lab?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Vera Yata Walker:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \n \n

    We\u2019ve got so many things to do each day, so much on our plate, that we haven\u2019t given Buruli ulcer the time and attention it needs. <\/strong>That\u2019s why we\u2019re asking for more staff and more training.

    It\u2019s very important for us to really know how to conduct these tests. In the coming weeks, a senior colleague from the Buruli ulcer network in Cameroon will visit and teach us how to solve the problems we have, and how to prepare reagents.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Anesvad Foundation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    In many laboratories around the world, men often hold positions of responsibility such as the one you hold; what\u2019s your experience been like in this leadership role?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Vera Yata Walker:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \n \n

    That\u2019s a very interesting question. Here, it\u2019s a huge challenge for a woman to lead a team. You know, many times people tend to look down on you a bit and think, \u201cWell, she\u2019s a girl, surely she can\u2019t really be our boss.\u201d <\/strong>But I think that I\u2019ve shown my worth over time and it\u2019s thanks to my experience, to the amount of training I\u2019ve done, effort, hard work… I\u2019m always available, even when I\u2019m exhausted<\/strong>.

    I always follow up on my patients, you know, always improving, I\u2019m passionate about what I do. I\u2019m passionate about my work. <\/strong>So, because of that, my bosses always come to me \u2013 in particular because of what I did during the Ebola outbreak: when nobody wanted to work, I was there working.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Anesvad Foundation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

    In your opinion, do you think that Liberia is progressing when it comes to women entering the field of science?<\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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    Vera Yata Walker:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n \n \n

    Yes, things are getting better.

    Nowadays, you don\u2019t see just men working as lab technicians;<\/strong> women now do this job as well. When I studied for this career, there were only two women in my class. Today, there are more women studying to be lab technicians, so we\u2019re getting close to that goal.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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