Adopting her studies into her daily life and sacrificing all her time to her academic life has earned Durban University of Technology’s Food and Nutrition research assistant, Sinenhlanhla Memela, her Master’s degree.

Memela graduated on Wednesday morning (13 September 2017) during the Faculty of Applied Sciences graduation ceremony. She graduated with a Degree of Master of Applied Sciences in Food and Nutrition. Her thesis explored the relationship between the socio-economic development and its effects on nutritional status. The focal point was based on a township community and it was aimed to establish the consumption of a “Westernised” diet synonymous with the nutrition transition.

Speaking about the reason behind this particular study which was conducted in Umlazi, Memela said she wanted to close the gap of insufficient local studies and literature exploring the determinants of non-communicable diseases, especially in adults of emerging middle-income communities.

“My study was a way for me not to only gain knowledge but to be exposed to the community which I belong to and possibly whose consumption cultures I am likely to emulate. I figured that this way I could be able to contribute further to behavioral changes necessary for quality nutritional status,” she said.
The uMlazi bred, 27-year-old, who loves research, finds that her study made her love for the public health sector stronger, with the focus on nutrition and previously disadvantaged communities. She (Memela) also hopes to focus her future studies on policy development and education, mainly around the subject of nutrition security.

Pictured: Sinenhlanhla Memela

Noxolo Memela