Sophia Kisting, MD: Internationalist seeking global standards
- 1Clinical Communications Scientist, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Ann Arbor Laboratories, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- 2Adjunct Faculty, Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Albany, NY, USA
- Correspondence to: Deborah F Salerno, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA; deborah.salerno{at}pfizer.com
(photo credit: Lars-Erik Byström, Swedish National Institute for Working Life).
“Exposure of women to hazards at work is often invisible, in unpaid as well as paid work.”
April 1950– Country of birth: Namibia Sophia Kisting works to reduce HIV infection, improve reproductive health, and conduct occupational surveillance, assessing workers for silicosis and asbestosis. A physician and researcher at the School of Public Health at the University of Cape Town, she is involved in occupational health programmes, including prevention of needlesticks and HIV/hepatitis.
Working in a world where over 65% of the population works without insurance or employee protection, Kisting is particularly interested in women in agriculture, especially exposure of women and children on fruit farms. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 75% of agriculture workers are women in seasonal, casual, or subsistence farming.
Kisting looks to help with the establishment of a strong health and safety network in Africa, and to strengthen the north-south relationship internationally. Gaps in legislation can be exploited, but the goal is one good global standard for working conditions.
