‘Meet the Team Edition’ is a new series where you get to know our WACI Health Team much better. This month we will be focusing on Gloria Mululu, the Programs Officer at WACI Health. She is an experienced Public and Occupational Health advocate.
Question: What made you interested in advocacy and how long have you worked in this field?
Answer:
I have always had a passion for working with people but could not figure out how to channel it. When I was younger, I dreamed of being in the medical field, either as a nurse or a doctor; however, I didn’t make it to medical school. The closest I got to my ambitions was through my undergraduate studies in social work and psychology. I then pursued a Master’s in Public Health, which allowed me to enter the advocacy space.
Question: What has your experience been at WACI and what are your key takeaways?
Answer:
Working at WACI Health has been an incredibly educational experience. The organization continues to give me the runway to learn and numerous opportunities to constantly sharpen my advocacy skills. I recently chaired the Regional Adolescent Health Indaba (RAHI) Conference 2024, which was a successful and humbling experience in my advocacy career, as it was the first conference I chaired. In addition, the opportunity to work from home enables me to deliver quality work but at the same time, I am able to be present in my young daughters’ lives as I journey with them as they grow.
Question: What advice would you give to Africans looking to strengthen their advocacy and pushing for health for all?
Answer:
Foremost, Africans need to speak up. We are not in the era where we don’t care what happens in our health facilities and choose to ignore substandard delivery of services that we outrightly deserve. Being a Kenyan, I have observed my fellow country people being very bold at speaking out on matters that concern them, which is a key lesson others should note. I would encourage us all to continue speaking up, especially in the right places, not only in the service provision levels but also in meetings where donors, partners, and other key health stakeholders are present in order to make the message effective and have a bigger impact.
Question: What challenges have you faced and how have they shaped you?
Answer:
I wouldn’t call it a challenge but rather an technical obstacle that I overcame. In the advocacy space, it’s crucial to stay updated on global and regional conversations. This requires a lot of reading and engagement to fully grasp concepts and navigate the work more effectively and efficiently. My incredible colleague, Joyce Ng’ang’a, frequently shares valuable materials with me. Additionally, my continuous exposure to the various lines of work at WACI Health, combined with my steady engagement and inquisitive nature, enables me to quickly understand and contribute meaningfully.
Question: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Answer:
To finally graduate from my Master’s program that I have been pursuing has been a long-awaited achievement. My passion and joy come from being in spaces where I have little prior knowledge, as I love the challenge of satisfying my hunger for learning and constantly acquiring new knowledge. I am confident that I will find myself in academia. While I am unsure of when, how, or which program I will pursue next, I know it will be a degree that I will actively apply and that will play a significant role in shaping my career path.
Question: One interesting/ unique thing you love doing.
Answer:
I really love cooking, even though there have been times when I get the recipe wrong and the meal doesn’t turn out as expected. Still, I always go back to the drawing board and keep trying until I get it right. This process is especially meaningful to me because I do it with my daughter, making it a cherished bonding experience that I hold dear.
Question: Best song you’re currently listening to?
Answer:
I have two songs and one artist that I really enjoy. The first is ‘Kana Ndanyura’ by Killer T, a Zimbabwean artist. I came across this catchy song at the RAHI 2024 conference – it was heartwarming to see young people dancing to it and adopting it as the conference’s theme song. The second song is ‘Nikukonde’ by Ty2, a Zambian artist. Lastly, I love the music of a Kenyan local artist named Njerae.