To celebrate International Women’s Day (March 8), the Capacity Project and IntraHealth International pay tribute to just one of the many women who are making a difference in advancing global health. Fatu Yumkella is a woman whose dedication to improving health care in her native Africa inspires all who know her.

Born in Sierra Leone, Fatu has brought her energies and talents to strengthening health care and health systems in developing countries for over 25 years. Her career in global health began by chance. In 1977 as an undergraduate student, Fatu got the opportunity to work part-time in the statistics section of the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Sierra Leone. MOH leaders spotted her enthusiasm and talent for analyzing data and reporting health-related information. Dr. Marcella Davies, who was chief medical officer at the time, pledged “to do what it takes to ensure Fatu makes a career in public health.” True to this pledge, the MOH facilitated a scholarship for Fatu to undertake postgraduate studies in medical demography at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London. After graduation, Fatu was appointed in 1980 as the first medical demographer in the MOH.

Since 1995 Fatu has been involved with IntraHealth International, a leader in mobilizing and developing effective health care services for the most vulnerable people. Fatu’s current role is performance support advisor for the Capacity Project, an innovative global initiative funded by USAID and led by IntraHealth International.

The Capacity Project helps developing countries strengthen human resources for health (HRH) to better respond to the challenges of implementing and sustaining quality health programs. The Project focuses on improving health workforce planning and leadership; developing better education and training programs; and strengthening systems to support workforce performance. This third area is where Fatu comes in.

With limited support from health care systems, health workers in developing countries are often overworked, poorly paid and not provided with needed equipment and supplies. Their performance can suffer due to lack of supervision, and a range of gender issues may affect job satisfaction, retention and productivity. Making matters worse, increasing shortages of health workers are corresponding with deteriorating working conditions and growing demand to incorporate labor-intensive services such as antiretroviral therapies.

Developing tools and initiatives to improve job satisfaction and retention is a key component of the Capacity Project’s efforts to support workforce performance. Led by Fatu, the Project is assisting ministries of health to design and pilot retention interventions that will influence policy-making.

In Tanzania, for example, Fatu and other Capacity Project HR specialists worked with MOH leaders to develop an HR management briefing program for 19 districts participating in an emergency hiring initiative. She and her team are helping the districts to create action plans to guide them in taking practical steps for retaining workers. In Uganda, Fatu is involved in the Capacity Project’s retention study aimed at identifying causes of turnover as well as job satisfaction factors that contribute to turnover. Findings are being incorporated into Uganda's HRH strategic plan and will guide strategies to improve retention.

To help HRH practitioners address the challenge of retention, Fatu authored the technical brief Retention of Health Care Workers in Low-Resource Settings: Challenges and Responses. This concise paper describes the causes of turnover and practical approaches to retention. She also wrote a longer paper, Retention: Health Workforce Issues and Response Actions in Low-Resource Settings, to provide a more detailed evidence base.

In addition to her performance support efforts, Fatu coordinates the Capacity Project’s full scope of work in Tanzania. Tanzania’s severe shortage of health workers—described by the MOH as an emergency—is especially troubling in light of the urgent health care needs the country is facing. Fatu and her colleagues are working to increase Tanzania’s ability to carry out long-term planning to recruit, retain and effectively utilize health workers. Current activities on the mainland are focused on reducing hiring bottlenecks and strengthening district HR management systems. On Zanzibar, efforts include helping the MOH implement its strategic plan for HRH, improving productivity and developing an HR information system.

Fatu’s contribution to global health goes beyond IntraHealth International. Since 2002 she has served the World Health Organization, first as a member of the Expert Advisory Committee and subsequently as a member of the Special Advisory Committee for onchocerciasis control in West Africa.

In conversation, Fatu is quick to reveal how thoroughly she has enjoyed her career in global health. She has a passion for monitoring and evaluation of health programs and derives immense satisfaction working with country counterparts to improve the work climate, especially for health workers who serve disadvantaged communities.

Fatu humbly acknowledges the role played by many to advance her career. She extends special thanks to Dr. Marcella Davies and Dr. Belmont William (both former chief medical officers in Sierra Leone), Pauline Muhuhu (former IntraHealth regional director for East and Southern Africa), Jedida Wachira (former director of programs, IntraHealth East and Southern Africa regional office), Jim McCaffery (Capacity Project senior advisor for technical resources) and her friends for believing in her. To her parents (the late Alhaji Ali Dausy Wurie and Haja Ramatu Wurie), her siblings, her husband (Mohamed Foday) and children (Hussine and Dausy, and Mohamed Sogay), Fatu takes this opportunity to “express her sincere thanks for your love, support and understanding.”

See this story on USAID's website along with stories of other women who are making a difference in global health.

The Capacity Project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IntraHealth International and partners (IMA, JHPIEGO, LATH, MSH, PATH, TRG), helps developing countries strengthen human resources for health to better respond to the challenges of implementing and sustaining quality health programs. For more information, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it