QMYOU Alumni Magazine Issue 83 | Page 23

QMYOU / Graduate Interview 25

Promoting human rights in Scotland and Africa

Eunice Sinyemu , advocate for human rights and graduate in Social Development and Health

EUNICE SINYEMU HAS had a varied and interesting career since graduating from QMU ’ s Institute for Global Health and Development in 2004 . Her impact has been felt in Scotland where she helped change the culture of healthcare in relation to services for the growing African population ; in London when she headed up the policy unit for the African Health Policy Network ; and in Zambia where she worked in human rights and promoted access to HIV , TB and Malaria healthcare .

The QMU graduate became a national voice in HIV and AIDS around the time that Scotland began receiving a lot of Africans . Between 2001 and 2011 the African population in Scotland increased from 5,000 to 30,000 , many of them asylum seekers from countries with high rates of HIV such as Zimbabwe where they were fleeing from the harsh regime of Mugabe . She initially worked with Waverley Care in Edinburgh and undertook her dissertation on the topic of Africans with HIV in Scotland . This equipped her well for the area that would feature most prominently throughout her career – her work in improving healthcare for Africans with HIV and AIDS .
After graduating , Eunice stayed on in Edinburgh to work with HIV Scotland . Her role helped break new ground during what was a changing cultural landscape in the NHS . She explained : “ A significant percentage of African new arrivals and asylum seekers discovered , while living in Scotland , that they were actually HIV positive . This presented real challenges to health and social care services as there were significant cultural differences to overcome . Health professionals had very little experience of dealing with Africans , and at that time , there was literally no healthcare provision for Africans with HIV and AIDS in their home countries . People were trapped . They couldn ’ t return to their home country , even if they were able to , because there were no services or treatment in place to help manage their illness and that meant a certain death sentence .”
It took some time for the health service in Scotland to adjust to the differences in cultural attitudes to healthcare . Africans had little experience of preventative healthcare , usually only seeking medical assistance once they had become extremely ill . However , Eunice ’ s role , as a first point of reference , enabled many people to access services for the first time and her work undoubtedly helped to save lives . During that difficult time , she , along with others in Scotland , became an advocate for the development of healthcare services for Africans and minority groups , working with agencies to develop appropriate health interventions and encouraging Africans to seek the right help . Her work assisted in changing the language that health professionals used in clinics which improved communication between healthcare workers and Africans . In addition , she influenced policy changes within her own organisation at the time , HIV Scotland .
Over the years , Eunice experienced real challenges working in Scotland . She said : “ At the time race relations was difficult because of attitudes towards minority groups . It was rare for Africans to secure good 9-5 jobs .”
Ultimately , Eunice ’ s work with Waverley Care and HIV Scotland contributed to a cultural shift and helped improve health outcomes for Africans . She said : “ It is very satisfying to have witnessed the policy changes that took place in Scotland and across the UK . Africans began to be viewed more positively and attitudes toward minority groups improved . Hopefully , I also played a part in improving the employment prospects of Africans in Scotland because of the groundwork that I did with Waverley Care .”
After five years with HIV Scotland , Eunice moved to London to take on the role as Deputy CEO with the African Health Policy Network where she concentrated mainly on delivering HIV and AIDS prevention programmes . After two years she returned to her home country of Zambia to care for her mother . She juggled the demands of family , which included bringing up 12 children ( one of her own , three related to family and eight from the local community ) with a job with the Volunteers Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign . She was Training and Capacity Strengthening Co-ordinator under the project AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa . This involved liaising with the Ministry of Health on human rights , HIV , TB and malaria issues .
As an experienced human rights advocate , Eunice ’ s skills are highly sought after in African countries and in the UK . She recently began a new role with the Tropical Health and Education Trust ( THET ) which has its head office in London . Eunice will work from Zambia as its country manager where she will manage the health partnership scheme which looks after doctors and nurses and focuses on capacity strengthening for the healthcare workforce . She will oversee their country programmes including nutrition and biomedical engineering projects which will help develop healthcare workers .
When asked about the most rewarding part of her education and career development , Eunice singles out her time at QMU . She concluded : “ My time spent at QMU was the highlight of my life . My Social Development and Health degree blended practical and academic work very successfully , which really built my skills and knowledge . The confidence that I gained at QMU has helped me secure a number of high flying jobs in the UK and in Africa . QMU helped shape my life and I have much to be thankful for .” ❒

QMYOU / Graduate Interview 25