In a significant recognition of academic excellence and public health leadership, Siphiwe Khumalo, a graduate of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), has been selected as one of only 20 international fellows for the 2025 United Nations Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship. Chosen from more than 2,400 applicants across over 100 countries, her selection by the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) marks a remarkable personal and institutional milestone.
Hailing from Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal, Khumalo holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Tshwane University of Technology and a Master’s in Pharmacy Public Health and Management from SMU — the only South African university offering this specialised qualification.
Speaking ahead of her visit to Geneva, Switzerland, in August, she said: “Coming from a small village, I never imagined I’d stand on a global platform. This isn’t just my achievement — it’s a door opened for many others.”
The Youth for Biosecurity Fellowship offers early-career professionals training in biosecurity diplomacy, multilateral negotiations, and research collaboration. The three-month programme includes online learning, a group research project, and an in-person visit to Geneva during the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) meetings from 11–15 August 2025.
Khumalo’s academic and professional work lies at the intersection of pharmacy, public health, and policy. Her Master’s research explored COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among South African pharmacists. While 74.3% of participants were vaccinated, nearly a third were unwilling to recommend vaccination — a concerning statistic for frontline health professionals.
“We can’t expect healthcare workers to champion vaccines if their own doubts aren’t addressed,” she explained. “My aim was to surface those concerns and offer solutions for future interventions.”
Khumalo is no newcomer to international platforms. She previously served as Regional Secretary for the International Pharmaceutical Students’ Federation (IPSF) and was selected as a delegate to the 78th World Health Assembly — though visa delays prevented her attendance. As the only South African fellow in the 2025 cohort, she sees her Geneva visit as a chance to amplify African voices in global health and biosecurity.
Her fellowship project focuses on bridging the Biological Weapons Convention with the WHO Pandemic Agreement, aiming to strengthen global responses to both natural and deliberate biological threats.
Reflecting on her time at SMU, Khumalo credited mentors such as Professor Hannellie Meyer for helping her grow: “SMU empowered me to claim space in public health as a pharmacist. I hope others will be inspired to do the same.”
Looking to the future, Khumalo envisions a career in global health diplomacy, emergency response, and mentorship. “This fellowship isn’t the finish line — it’s a launchpad. I intend to bring others along on this journey of impact and transformation.”
With determination rooted in her background and a vision shaped by global aspirations, Khumalo’s journey highlights both the calibre of SMU graduates and the power of African leadership on the world stage.
By Tumelo Moila
