Community Ally
Honouree
Rachel Baggaley
United Kingdom
I was born in London in 1959 and didn’t come from a medical family but always wanted to be a doctor. It wasn’t the science that was the most important thing for me about medicine, it was the privilege of working with people. Every day of my working life I have found it fascinating and different, but sometimes sad and challenging. The first part of my working life was in London and then with two small babies we moved to Zambia, where my husband who worked on TB, has a job at the University Teaching Hospital.
I thought I would have a restful time playing with the babies in the sunshine. That wasn’t to be. When I got off the plane I was told ‘you are a doctor ….. you know about HIV, you start working tomorrow’.
Of course, that is what I did and have done ever since. My life became intertwined with HIV – the advances, the setbacks. So much is better now with hugely effective treatment and prevention and strong communities in many countries which advocate for services and provide them successfully. My family have always been supportive of my rather hectic peripatetic working life, and I hope they don’t feel sometimes neglected. I look back and think of the numerous inspirational people we have met along the way who have shaped our lives.
Tell us about your work
HIV was ‘discovered’ when I was a medical student, and it has been at the center of my working life ever since. I started working with people who inject drugs in London in the late 80s, working on needle- syringe and OST programmes. Then moving to Zambia in 1992 for 6 years working there for a community organization with the first PLHIV organization setting up HIV testing and support for PLHIV.
Those were sad days before ARVs – but also much joy too in supporting PLHIV to promote their voices to start a strong response, raise awareness and confront stigma and discrimination. Then 10 years working with community-based organizations in all regions, largely with KP groups, listening, learning and supporting the growth of many strong increasingly professionalized organizations. Most recently working for WHO as the unit head for testing, prevention, and populations across HIV, STIs and hepatitis. The tasks include producing global normative guidance, working with all stakeholders on prioritizing work and advocating for evidence based and equitable programmes, supporting countries and programmes and keeping abreast of research and innovations. Thank you APCOM for you passion, wisdom and collaboration over these past 10 years I have been at WHO.
What one achievement you’ve accomplished that you’re most proud of?
Why?
One thing … difficult. Is this a technical product? or guidelines or a specific programme I have supported?
Perhaps the thing I am most proud of is the colleagues I have supported over my 30 plus years in HIV who I have, in some small way, encouraged and nurtured and are now leaders, movers and shakers in their countries and organizations.
What do you find most challenging about your work? Why?
The increasingly hostile human right environment and negative attitudes towards key populations in many countries is a huge challenge to working on HIV. I find it so unbearably sad that many in leadership pander to populist views which, rather than condemning human rights violations, support policies that overtly make the lives of people affected by HIV more difficult and dangerous. This makes the role of communities even more important for all of us to continue to stand up and stand together.
What do you do to recharge your battery?
My family and friends are very important to me. Spending time with my sons, daughters-in-law and grandsons give me such joy. And linking up with friends for delicious food (not usually cooked by me, as I am a lousy cook, but luckily I am blessed with many friends who are happy to step in!) laughter and discussions keeps me going.
Over the years, the many dinners with eclectic groups of wonderful friends and colleagues have been a mainstay and keeps me hopeful in an often-sad world. Walking in the countryside clears my head and reading and vising art galleries kindles different perspectives.
What is your vulnerability and how do you overcome it?
I think I am a ‘big picture’ person – but the detail, which I am not as good at, is also critical for projects to succeed. So, I have been incredibly lucky to work with fantastic colleagues allowing us to achieve things together. You cannot accomplish things alone. Nothing in my work life would have been a success without the collaboration with others.
You have been nominated for the Community Ally category. What was your reaction?
I was rather shocked (and had to check this was really meant for me!) … but totally humbled and hugely honored. I have always felt strongly that community is everything. Nothing I do – be it developing guidelines, looking at how we set priorities for HIV, how we deliver programme, how we challenge and address stigma and discrimination – means anything without the central voice of communities.
What is a warm/hopeful message that you would like to share with the communities in the Asia Pacific?
The community leadership in Asia Pacific is an inspiration for the world. You need to continue to hold us all to account. Keep reminding us in the HIV response it’s about people, not only about data/numbers. Never be shy and acknowledge your skills in research, monitoring and evaluation, quality assessment and improvement – alongside communications, advocacy, and implementation.
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