Mashudu Netshisaulu

A South African gynecologist who pioneered efforts to improve reproductive health care for rural women.

Mashudu Netshisaulu, born in 1960s South Africa, dedicated her career to addressing the disparities in reproductive healthcare access between urban and rural communities. As one of the first Black female gynecologists in her country, she co-founded the South African Gynaecological Cancer Foundation, which focuses on early detection and treatment of cervical cancer. Her work led to the implementation of mobile clinics in underserved areas, providing life-saving services to over 500,000 women by 2020. She also spearheaded the University of Witwatersrand’s rural healthcare training program, training over 300 midwives and nurses annually. Her advocacy for affordable cervical screening methods, such as the visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) technique, reduced mortality rates by 40% in targeted regions. Netshisaulu’s 2015 book 《Rural Healthcare: A Blueprint for Equity》 became a cornerstone text for global health policymakers.