‘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 Joyce Ng’ang’a, the Senior Policy Advisor at WACI Health. She is a senior WACI Health representative to high profile policymakers, practitioners, think-tanks, academic partners, the media and the public.

Question: What made you interested in advocacy and how long have you worked in this field?

Answer:
With 8 years at WACI Health and 17 years in advocacy overall, my career has transitioned from a background in nursing and health systems management to policy advocacy. My passion for policy advocacy stems from the significant impact it has on shaping global policies, which continually fuels my dedication and interest in this field.

Question: What has your experience been at WACI and what are your key takeaways?

Answer:

Over the past eight years at WACI Health, I’ve had an enriching experience that has significantly shaped my personal and professional growth. I’ve acquired valuable skills such as policy analysis, advocacy, and gained exposure to global health policymaking and fundraising processes. Networking has also been a key part of this journey. The skills I’ve developed in advocacy have fostered a mindset that believes “everything is achievable.”

To achieve success, it’s essential to start with a clear end goal. If you fall short, it’s important to revisit and adjust your strategy. Success often comes through careful planning, involving the right stakeholders, and engaging the right people and processes. Even when outcomes don’t align with expectations, failure isn’t a loss but rather a valuable learning opportunity.

Question: What advice would you give to Africans looking to strengthen their advocacy and pushing for health for all?

Answer:

Collaboration is essential for success in this sector. To see results, you must work with others, strategize together, and leverage skills from various players and sectors. Timely planning is crucial, as processes like Universal Health Coverage (UHC) follow strict timelines, and there are related global, regional, and country-level processes to consider.

A shift in mindset is also necessary—Africa is often perceived as poor and dependent on external support, but it is rich in resources. These resources must be unlocked and directed towards important causes like HIV prevention. Supporting drug manufacturing within Africa is vital, as not all countries have the capacity to do so.

Question: What do you think is the most critical issue facing the communities we serve, and how are we addressing it at WACI Health?

Answer:

One of the greatest challenges communities face is being consistently overlooked in ongoing processes and planning, resulting in them being placed last. At WACI Health, our advocacy centers on equity, ensuring that everyone receives the care or treatment they need in an equitable manner. We emphasize that communities must be prioritized first. They have the capacity to design interventions that work for them, leading to impactful results. By placing communities at the forefront, we can use resources and time more effectively, focusing on high-impact interventions created by the communities themselves.

Additionally, communities receive minimal resources. One of WACI Health’s key advocacy areas is ensuring that funding directed toward countries significantly reaches communities. We also advocate for preventive and promotive care as part of primary healthcare, with communities leading the way in prevention efforts. Prioritizing those most affected by or living with particular conditions is essential, and we have data showing which communities have been left behind.

For example, rising HIV infections, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence disproportionately affect adolescent girls and young women. Targeted interventions are necessary for these groups. Moreover, community-led monitoring, where communities collect and analyze their own data, is critical. This data must be considered in decision-making processes to ensure no one is left behind.

Question: What upcoming project or area of work are you excited about, and why?

Answer:

At WACI Health, we are engaged in several exciting and impactful programs. Firstly, the Bridge for Health project integrates sexual reproductive health, HIV prevention and treatment, and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) with a focus on sustainability beyond donor funding. The goal is to ensure that by 2030, countries can sustain their health systems domestically, even without external financial support.

Secondly, in HIV prevention, new tools like the LEN injection, Dapivirine vaginal ring, and Cabotegravir (CAB LA) injections are now available, offering more options beyond oral PrEP. We advocate for providing communities with a range of choices, allowing them to select what works best for them at different stages in life. A dual prevention pill for both pregnancy and HIV prevention is also on the horizon, which will be a significant breakthrough alongside existing methods like condoms.

Thirdly, our advocacy for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has gained momentum recently, and we are optimistic that it will lead to critical solutions in this area. Lastly, we are excited to advocate for local manufacturing in Africa.

Question: One interesting/ unique thing you love doing.

Answer:

I enjoy taking long drives while listening to music as a way to clear my mind.

Question: Best song you’re currently listening to?

Answer:

I enjoy R&B music from the 80s and 90s, and I am currently listening to “Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston.