International Women's Day: Stories of Inspiration

To recognize International Women’s Day, we asked some of the inspirational women at Partners In Health to tell us about a woman in their lives who has inspired them. Here are their answers:

Photo by Seneq Pierre-Martelly / Partners In Health

Marie Mellande Tulme, “Miss Tulme,” community health coordinator, Haiti

“The first person that comes to mind is my mom. She was very dynamic and loved people. My mother was someone who would always give to others; she was always involved. I can’t remember a time when our front porch wasn’t full of people waiting for food or advice. She was always there for those who didn’t have much. Even older people would call her ‘mom.’

This vision of her helping others was ingrained in me at a young age, and as I got older I felt like it was my calling to help others. It shaped my own work, I knew I wanted to help others not only improve their health, but also their lives.

People who knew my mom say, ‘Marie Mellande, that’s Jaqueline Michel’s daughter. She’s just like her’—and that makes me feel good. It’s as if my mom passed down her gifts to me.”

Photo by Elena Devyashina

Alexandra Solovyeva, patient accompaniment program manager and training specialist, Russia

“Faina Lisiyenkova, my grandmother, played a big role in my becoming a doctor. She worked as a nurse, then a doctor’s assistant, and after graduating from medical school, she became a general practitioner. While she studied medicine, she worked very hard as it was post-World War II and people were starving and sick.

As a little girl, I watched her examine her patients and answer their questions, and how grateful they were to her for the care she provided. I always played the role of a doctor with my dolls. Of course, she encouraged it.

My grandmother’s story made me realize how important it is to follow your dreams despite misfortune, and not to be afraid of hardship.”

Photo by Nandi Bwanali / Partners In Health

Getrude Daluni, hospital attendant, Neno District Hospital, Malawi

“In 2002, I was diagnosed with HIV. Since then, I’ve tried to help people who are also infected. A woman called Irene Kudethe helped me through this journey. She shares her story in awareness campaigns and encouraged me to proactively advocate and to be open about my life and status. She told me to live and work just like everyone else because being HIV-positive does not make me less human. We are still in touch and constantly motivate each other in our work.”

Photo by Aaron Levenson / Compañeros En Salud

Miriam Morales, secretary for Right to Health program, Mexico

“My mother: Flor de Maria Camas Briones. She is a very special person who has always been with me to support me. She is a woman who despite all complications in life always has a big smile. She’s a monument of a woman.”

Photo by William Castro Rodriguez / Socios En Salud

Teodosia Asto De La Cruz, field supervisor for the TB Zero project in Carabayllo, Peru

“The woman who influenced my life was my mother. Since I was very little, I learned from her how to live in solidarity with people, to have values that influenced my personal life. All of this helps me daily in persevering at work.”

Photo by Gibrilla Sheriff / Partners In Health

Rebecca E. Rollins, Interim Chief Communications Officer

"Thousands of Ebola survivors have influenced my life more deeply than I ever imagined. Their effect on me is personified by three powerful and generous women who have become close friends. Yabom (left), Hawanatu, and Hafsatu: Thank you, cheers, and cheers."