Rukia Ware Abdelkadir, Health Systems Specialist and Public Health Advocate

Affectionately known as “Madam Rukia”, Rukia’s innovative healthcare delivery in Marsabit County, Kenya, through donkey outreach and a staunch battle against female genital mutilation, has bridged traditional and modern practices, saving lives and empowering women. Her legacy is to build a sustainable health model, ensuring generational prosperity and transformative impact.

I come from Marsabit, a town located in the northern region of Kenya within Marsabit County, one of the largest counties in terms of area among the 47 counties in Kenya. In our area, girls often experience considerable marginalisation. Together with various organisations and members of the community, we’ve been involved in mentoring young girls through our leading Girls of Legacy programmes, which worked to raise awareness about the importance of education, health and the necessity of abandoning harmful cultural practices and empowerment initiatives.

I pursued a nursing degree at the University of Nairobi and later completed a master’s in public health, focusing on health systems strengthening, quality and risk management, community development and empowerment. With over 10 years working as a paramedic and emergency medical services, I now handle quality management and innovations in prehospital care.

My educational journey was driven by my desire to address health issues and economic status in my community. In our region, maternal mortality rates are alarmingly high, with nearly 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births, among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. This dire situation spurred my collaboration with the Phillips Foundation to enhance public and primary health care access and address maternal health challenges in Marsabit. Phillips Foundation ‘s primary purpose is to provide access to quality healthcare for undeserved communities.
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