From Student Leader to Health Champion: My Journey of Inspiration and Leadership

Discovering My Passion for Health Advocacy

It all began in late 2021, when I retired from my role as the general secretary of the University of Dodoma students organization (UDOSO) 2020/2021. During my time in this role, I witnessed firsthand the challenges that students faced when it came to matters of health education, including mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and other youth health issues. These experiences were a turning point for me, as they sparked my passion for advocating for better health policies and education for young people.

I knew that I wanted to make a difference and be a part of creating positive change in my community. That's when the idea of creating the UDOM Health Club was born. The club would serve as a forum and association where we could address the health issues that were affecting students and provide them with the resources and support they needed.

Building a Team and Creating a Vision

I couldn't have brought this idea to fruition without the support and guidance of some amazing individuals. Dr. Leonard Katalambula, the head of the Public Health department, and Madam Atugonza Laurent, our principal founder and first chairperson, were instrumental in helping us establish the club. Together with a group of dedicated youth health champions, we worked tirelessly to make the UDOM Health Club a reality.

But the work didn't stop there. We needed to create a sustainable plan for the club's programs and develop leaders and champions who could take the lead after we graduated. This is where the role of leadership came in, and I quickly learned that it required more than just communicating effectively. It required the ability to inspire and communicate the vision of the club to its members.

As a team, we decided that our vision for the UDOM Health Club would be "Your Health today is your life tomorrow" and I always insisted that "UDOM Health Club ni mbegu ya haradali inayokua kwa kasi" (UDOM Health Club is a seed of hope that will grow into something great). This vision helped to create a bigger picture for the members and motivated them to work towards achieving our goals. Madam Atugonza, our principal founder, once said, "If we commit ourselves, we will achieve every plan written in our strategic plan."

Dr. Katalambula also emphasized the importance of collaboration as a key to success. We began by collaborating with TAMSA, HORH organisation, UNSATA, UDOSO, and other organizations to further our mission of helping our communities solve public health issues and advocating for youth health at every level.

Making a Difference and Leaving a Legacy

Through our hard work and dedication, we were able to achieve many successes, including organizing health fairs, providing health education workshops, and advocating for better health policies for young people. We were able to make a real difference in the lives of the students and the community, and it was an incredibly fulfilling experience.

The UDOM Health Club became a beacon of hope and inspiration for the youth of Dodoma and beyond, and I am proud to have been a part of its creation and growth. This journey taught me many valuable lessons about leadership, communication, and collaboration, and I will always cherish the memories and the impact that we made on the lives of so many young people.

As I moved on from my role as a leader at the UDOM Health Club, I am confident that the team and leaders we developed will continue to make a positive impact on the community. I am proud to have been a part of something that has such a meaningful and lasting impact.

I hope that.

Live long UDOM Health Health Club!