Voices From Those We Work With

Catherine Aanyu, midwife

Catherine Aanyu is a 26-year-old midwife from Katakwi, a small town in Eastern Uganda. She's currently building her skills through Amref Health Africa's eLearning programme.

Violet Boonabana, midwife

Violet Boonabana was raised by her aunt, a midwife, in Kampala. Growing up, Violet would admire the way her aunt cared for the women in their community.

Scholastica, entrepreneur

Fistula survivor Scholastica Daudi is running her own business, supporting her growing family, and helping other women recovering from this physically and psychologically painful condition.

Margaret Kilonzo, CHW

In March 2021, Amref Health Africa hosted a virtual event to give supporters a window into our work. The star of the show was Margaret Kilonzo, a Community Health Worker (CHW), who was born, raised and continues to work in Kibera, Nairobi: Africa’s largest informal settlement.

Amos Kimani, football coach

As a child, Amos Kimani attended the Dagoretti Child Protection and Development Centre, where he discovered a passion - and a talent - for football. Today, he's a qualified FIFA coach.

Jemimah Makau, midwife

Jemimah has been a midwife at Emali Model Hospital in Makueni County, Kenya, since 2011. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way women in Makueni have deliveries, and Jemimah fears for the women in her community.

Mumbi Malama, CHW

Across Africa, Community Health Workers are playing a crucial part in creating demand for the COVID-19 vaccine. Zambia's Mumbi Malama explains what drives her to do this vital work without financial reward.

Vivian Nandi, survivor and tailor

Vivian Nandi developed obstetric fistula during the birth of the youngest of her five children. She credits her husband Mussa, her Christian faith, and her support network for giving her the strength to recover. But it’s clear that she’s a pretty extraordinary woman in her own right.

Abdi Neda, waste collector

30-year-old Abdi is the head of a solid waste collectors' union in Yeka Sub-City, Addis Ababa. He oversees the work of seven groups of waste collectors (a total of 96 people) and is directly responsible for a further three groups. Twice a week, the groups go house-to-house and collect waste that is then separated into rubbish, compostable waste, and recycling.

Mercy Paundi, nurse

Mercy Paundi is Head Nurse at Mangochi District Hospital. The 31-year-old comes from the Yau tribe in southern Malawi, where very few girls finish primary, let alone secondary school because they often get pregnant and marry at a young age.

Melkae Tadesse, waste collector

"I'm a single mum," says Melkae. "I have two sons, aged 15 and 11, and I'm raising them alone: I'm the leader of the house, and I have to provide for them. This work [solid waste collection] has enabled me to do that."

Amina Wisiki, peer champion

Amina Wisiki is a 24-year-old social worker in Lulanga, southern Malawi. For the region's Yao tribe, child marriage and early sexual activity are commonplace - but Amina is committed to helping young people know how to keep themselves safe.

The Midwives of the Future

Working in partnership with GSK, Amref has supported the establishment of the first-ever midwifery training programme in Gambela, Ethiopia. Here, some of the pilot cohort share what inspired them to pursue this path.

A sisterhood of survivors

In Mwanza Region, Tanzania, Amref Health Africa is supporting networks of fistula survivors who, as well as running small businesses, are working as ambassadors and shifting perceptions in their communities.

Mother and midwife; the strongest partnership

“More women should have a Hellen,” says Miriam. “Midwives are very important. Thanks to Hellen, I have two healthy children, and I’ve been able to choose when to have them.”

Simon Mbasi, South Sudan

A population of over 40,000 people in Ibba county, South Sudan rely on one ambulance and one ambulance driver. His name is Simon Mbasi.

Junnet Mbogo, CHW

Junnet is a mother, entrepreneur and volunteer community health worker from Kilifi county, Kenya.

Phanice Kwamboka, Kenya

Phanice is a mother and market-trader from Barani in Mombasa county, who lives with Type 2 diabetes.

Noel Siyaya, midwife

Noel works as a midwife in Malawi. His health centre now has clean, safe water piped to it directly, helping to maintain cleanliness, reduce the risk of infection, sterilise equipment and ensure dignity for patients. Water, sanitation and hygiene are the bedrock of good health.

Bi Hawa, Community health champion

Bi Hawa is a community health champion and TB survivor from Kibweni, Zanzibar, Tanzania. Amref supports her with training to educate her community about TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Faith, AMIU student

Faith won a scholarship to study for a Diploma in Community Health at Amref International University. She aims to go back to her community to help others get access to vital healthcare.

Sauma and Ibrahim: Heroes for gender transformative action

Sauma and Ibrahim are getting support from Amref school health clubs in Uganda to fight period stigma and gender stereotypes.

Josephine, CHW, Zambia

Josephine the community health worker is closing the gap between people in her community in Ndola, Zambia and the health services they need. She particularly helps mothers through pregnancy and beyond.

Adawuka Mukna

Adawuka lives in Afar, Ethiopia. Conflict and climate change drive pastoralists like her further from vital services. Her nearest health centre is 50km away - a journey too far and too costly to make.