Our First International Volunteer (Lilly Kh)

The Story of Lilly

I caught the travel bug at a young age and wanted to explore different places and different cultures. Over the years, that blossomed into much more with my passion for helping others and interest in health and medicine. So, after finishing a bachelor’s in Psychology I had my heart set to complete my master’s in public health, then my medical degree and finally jet off to an unknown far away exotic place with Doctors Without Borders (Medicines Sans Frontiers) to save people’s lives in emergency situations. We are now many years down the line since I made those plans and even though my plans have changed slightly, they haven’t in the least bit in terms of me exploring new places and helping people with their health. An Iranian-born Canadian woman, dreaming of global exploration of public health issues is now in beautiful Cameroon. Can you believe that?

My professional international work experience began at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters. I worked in the non-communicable diseases department on topics such as oral health; multidisciplinary development of an online tool to record the activities of non-member states within the NCD arena; and, the creation of two online learning courses that are now helping member states in their capacity building efforts for tobacco control. These projects were worked on through an internship and a subsequent consultancy. While at the WHO, I also had the incredible opportunity to attend the World Health Assembly as a delegate for the NCD alliance. Our job was to attend sessions and write reports for the organization to host on their website. While working on my last project with WHO I started collaborating with an Argentinian based for-profit social enterprise called Mindcotine, as their global health programs manager. At Mindcotine we are developing a tobacco cessation program by combining virtual reality, psychological techniques (such as cue exposure therapy), and mindfulness meditation. Their program is at the heart of what innovation looks like in our field: combining a low cost, ecofriendly tool (cardboard headset) with knowledge that most of the world already has (how to use a smartphone device). I assist their organization with searching and applying for grants, government funding, and accelerator programs. I also work on application materials to be sent to international conferences and global health events to increase exposure, the opportunities to network, learning opportunities, and mentorship opportunities. Lastly, I look for different programs offered by governments that will allow Mindcotine to participate in their funding process for new technologies in health. It is such an exciting field to be in and see the growth of a helpful tool with the potential of saving millions of lives.

Today, I have completed my project with the WHO and still working with Mindcotine, but I wanted more exposure to the world; the travel bug was awake again. I joined a program to volunteer as a public health and medical volunteer in India and Ecuador. I spent a month in each country learning more specifically about the system in place for treating HIV, drug addiction, TB, and women’s health. As you can see, I have many passions in public health. But usually they come down to technology, women and children’s health, and NCDs. In India, I worked with a transwoman and her goal to expand her NGO, Mitr Trust, further acrossDelhi to reach more trans youth and young adults and educate them on sexual health and giving them mental/emotional support. I also participated in a training session to understand the work of Sulabh international in teaching young girls about menstruation, how to make sanitary pads, and how to teach others. In Ecuador, I volunteered in a hospital wing that specifically catered to caring for adolescent mothers, some as young as 13. I created a blog of my journeys to outline the most valuable and sometimes the most troubling aspects. Now, I am in Cameroon collaborating with Value Health Africa (VAHA). I hope that my collaboration with VAHA will foster the learning of new skills and strengthening of current/old ones and allow me to contribute some of my knowledge to the projects carried out by this amazing institution.