My Secret Life: My Passion Stems From The Glaring Reality Of Healthcare Inadequacies In Nigeria – Na’ima Usman

Brief

Na’ima Idris Usman is a medical practitioner and a reproductive health advocate.  She is the anchor of the GirlsTalkSeries , a programme , which dwells basically on reproductive healthcare advocacy. She is also the founder, SHE-WIN Foundation. Dr. Usman, was recently accepted into the Nelson Mandela fellowship in the United States of America, following her very impactful programmes and initiatives. For the medicial practitioner, her acceptance into the Fellowship is a major point of an incline in her career as it has further exposed her to a wider pool of information and network, as well as provided a platform for the birth of other achievements. Her latest addition-’The She-Win “ foundation is an initiative geared towards promoting inclusive and comprehensive girl child education, leadership development and empowerment for women of reproductive age in Northern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

My name is Na’ima Idris Usman. I was born in Kano State and I’m the 9th of 14 children in my family. I am a medical practitioner and a reproductive health advocate.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

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I attended multiple schools for my primary school education. Firstly , I attended the famous Sankoree International School, then Bennie International School, and completed at Gulf Group Of schools.

I proceeded to  Queen’s College , Lagos State for my secondary school education after which I  obtained my medical degree from Southeast University China (MBBS) in 2018.

HOW IT STARTED

After obtaining  my medical practice license, and completed my housejob in 2019, I proceeded for my National Yousth Corps Service ( NYSC). I am now a certified medical officer with a Masters in Population and Reproductive Health.

My career in reproductive health advocacy started with GirlsTalkSeries before the COVID-19 pandemic. Through outreach and health education programmes, I brought much needed attention to the importance of preventative healthcare measures online, which has grown into a massive community of hundreds of thousands of students and followers.

Through my programmes and initiatives, I was accepted into the Nelson Mandela fellowship in the United States of America, which was a major point of an incline in my career as it further exposed me to a wider pool of information and network. It also provided a platform for the birth of the SHE-WIN Foundation.

The She-Win foundation is an initiative geared towards promoting inclusive and comprehensive girl child education, leadership development and empowerment for women of reproductive age in Northern Nigeria.

I have won various awards and recognitions for my initiatives and programmes across Nigeria and overseas.

I draw from my passion and the glaring reality of health inadequacies in society.

CHALLENGES

I have no pressing challenges that affects my work implementation, aside from access to policymakers which can be solved through accessing the right channels.

Any regrets?: I have no regrets so far. Every misstep has been a point of learning and growth for me.

PROJECTIONS

In alignment with the SHE-WIN Foundation goals, my projections are for women and girls to see significant improvement in access to medical care/supply and education on reproductive and maternal health in the coming years.

HOW DO YOU COMBINE BUSINESS/PROFESSION WITH FAMILY LIFE ?

I found a way to create work-life balance by managing my time efficiently across tasks, staying productive, and making time for personal stuff.

ADVICE TO FELLOW WOMEN:

My advice to fellow women, especially in northern Nigeria, is to be more resourceful and industrious. Monetize your craft, grow in knowledge, and contribute to societal growth on a larger scale.