Left to right: Tanya Pidwell, Menna Duyver (DTHF), Katherine Gill (DTHF).
Meet Tanya Pidwell – the master
co-ordinator behind the GIFT research project.
The Genital Inflammation Test (GIFT) is a small, user-friendly device that could have profound implications for women’s health. Behind GIFT’s development is a large multidisciplinary team of researchers from nine different institutions and countries led by the University of Cape Town. Tanya Pidwell, the GIFT project manager, oversees the operational management of the project’s moving parts. “Tanya is the glue that holds it all together,” says Jo-Ann Passmore, the project’s principal investigator.
Trained as a midwife, Tanya is passionate about the possibility that GIFT will empower women and girls to protect their reproductive health and fertility. “We know that South Africa has a very high prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) and bacterial vaginosis (BV)… these are easily treatable if we could diagnose them more effectively,” she says.
In many low- and middle-income countries, women receive treatment for STIs only when they have symptoms. Because more than half of infections are asymptomatic, many cases go untreated. By providing an easy, affordable, effective way to test for asymptomatic infections, Tanya says, “GIFT has the potential to give women their autonomy back – and improve their reproductive health outcomes.”
As a midwife, Tanya is unwaveringly committed to improving women’s health through the GIFT research project. “Her passion for making a meaningful difference in the field is evident in her approach to her work,” Jo-Ann says.
Journey to midwifery
Women’s empowerment and community service have been a central thread through Tanya’s career. Says Tanya, “It’s about where you come from and what you’re called to .”
Recalling her experiences working as a midwife in poorly resourced settings, she says, “It has been an honour of a lifetime to be a part of such a monumental moment in a woman’s life, to have her trust in you to support her as she brings her baby into the world and begins her journey into motherhood”.
It can be also be heart-breaking, and sometimes you have to step in, she says. “But the body is beautiful. Under normal circumstances, birth has its own divine rhythm and timing. Midwives are an honorary guest in the process.”
The United Nations (UN) recognises midwives as central to maternal health and the prevention of infant deaths. A 2022 UN report on midwifery in East and Southern Africa found a ratio of 2.5 midwives per 10 0000 people – which is almost two times lower than the global average. Because of this stark difference, this UN report calls for critical investment in midwife training for countries in the region to meet their sustainable development goals and universal health coverage.
Delivering GIFT
At first glance, Tanya’s day-to-day role at the core of the GIFT project seems far removed from her training as a midwife. However, her passion for addressing disparities in reproductive healthcare remains central to her work. Tanya says, “Understanding what happens on the ground is invaluable to helping research trials run smoothly.”
Tanya’s background as a midwife grants her invaluable insight into the lived experiences of the women who participate in the research. Her dedication to GIFT begins with the individual. Jo-Ann notes, “Tanya’s genuine interest in and care and respect for the women who volunteer to be part of the GIFT study is obvious. She is careful never to forget that without their generous willingness to participate, this project would not be possible.”
“I love my job,” Tanya says. “I get to do a hundred different things on any given day!” Although keeping track of all the moving parts of GIFT can be challenging, forging cohesive working relationships with all the multidisciplinary investigators and key support staff has been tremendously rewarding. “I’m thrilled about the birth of GIFT,” she adds – truly a gift to woman”.