Pauline Keronyai is a nurse and public health specialist supporting community health workers (CHWs). She is the Executive Director of Nama Wellness Community Centre, a non-profit organization in Uganda, and a board member of the Uganda Cancer Society and Uganda Red Cross Society, Mukono Branch.
What do you do and how did you get to where you are today?
My mom was a nurse and retired into community health work. Growing up within that environment inspired me to become a nurse as well. At Nama Wellness Community Center, I work closely with CHWs to reach remote populations with basic health services. When CHWs are trained, paid, and accessible, they are part of a strong health system. We collaborate with the Ministry of Health and work with other partners in the country to influence policy and scale our model for better community health programming.
Why did you apply to GHDI? What do you hope to take from the program?
When this opportunity came, I really looked at it as a chance for me to learn, refresh my mind, and serve my community better. I will use the knowledge acquired in GHDI to grow my organization, improve our programs, conduct research, and influence policies. The course was facilitated by highly knowledgeable and patient people, who shared high quality and updated content that inspired me each day of the course. I will greatly miss it!
What do you think someone should know before applying to GHDI?
This is a very rich program. If you dedicate time, you'll reap a lot from this course. Listening to fellow classmates in different countries builds your confidence to share personal experiences and learn during the course.
What would you say continues to fuel your inspiration and drive you in your work?
Anything to improve CHW programs is something I can jump into in a minute. CHWs in my country are experiencing several challenges - from no payment, to no supplies, to no training or recognition. Yet, they are saving the lives of the most vulnerable people.
In 2022, CHWS served more than 10,000 children under the age of 5 in our community. Seeing young children die from treatable diseases or preventable diseases is deeply sad. I have kids and when they are sick, I ensure they receive the right treatment. But what about the child in the remote areas with a mother who doesn't know what to do when her child is ill? When we empower CHWs to help such people, I feel very inspired.
What is something you wish to accomplish in your career or any career goals you have right now?
My goal right now is to learn more and share my learning with others to improve the health situation in my country. I hope to eventually enroll in a PhD program.