Welcome, 2021–2022 Fellows!
I hope you are just as thrilled to join the global health equity movement as I was a year ago. Hats off to you all for becoming Global Health Corps (GHC) fellows! I want to preface that this is only the beginning.
As a fellow this past year, I have had the opportunity to learn, unlearn and relearn what it means to be a leader advocating for health equity and HIV/AIDS management. I have been in the position to share ideas that I believe will transform approaches for scaling up the retention of pregnant and breastfeeding women who are living with HIV/AIDS at health facilities. Additionally, I was given an opportunity to ably pretest and prototype these strategies. It was my first time working at the health centers in the HIV/AIDS management docket.
By mid-year point, my fellowship perspective and perception had changed. I developed more appreciation and a deeper understanding of the networks involved in ensuring an HIV/AIDS-free generation through the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (eMTCT) clinics. I gained insights into how systems at a facility level run. Regardless of the enormous barriers, you could tell all health teams were doing the best they could with the resources within their reach. The fellowship gave me an opportunity to apply my leadership skills and explore my potential.
My cohort transitioned into the fellowship right after the first COVID-19 lockdown was lifted in Uganda. The organization was working with the new normal and had to limit the number of facilities we could reach for activity implementation. If I had to tell you one thing I learned during this time, it is that even with limited access to facilities and communities, you are capable of making an impact in the current health system and creating innovative approaches that are more people-centered in order to enhance service delivery.
As you transition into the GHC community, remember that you are the power.
The fellowship also helped me build upon my life purpose: health equity advocacy. I look forward to carrying the leadership banner in global health while specializing in Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). As you transition into the GHC community, remember that you are the power. Don’t underestimate yourself or your capabilities. Share your thoughts and ideas. Embrace other people’s ideas, ways of working, and the background they come from. I pass the torch with a quote:
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.” —Dr. Maya Angelou
Good luck throughout your fellowship!
Sincerely,
Catherine Guntesse Naluggya
Catherine Guntesse Naluggya is a 2020–2021 Global Health Corps fellow and Knowledge Management Officer at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Global Health Corps (GHC) is a leadership development organization building the next generation of health equity leaders around the world. All GHC fellows, partners, and supporters are united in a common belief: health is a human right. There is a role for everyone in the movement for health equity. To learn more, visit our website and connect with us on Twitter/Instagram/Facebook.
