Malinga Elizabeth, a mother of 2, has been one of the key players in Uganda's drive to improve the health of its population. For 37 years, she worked alongside the WHO Country Office as Personal Assistant to the WHO Representative and Human Resources Assistant.

"I joined WHO when I was only 26. Full of curiosity, I never knew I was going to spend most of my professional life there. Says Elizabeth Malinga, "Today, as I retire, I am happy to know that I have contributed to the improvement of the health system in Uganda.

Elizabeth's longevity at WHO is motivated by many factors, including the dynamic working environment, the continuing education opportunities offered by the organization to its staff, and above all, the feeling of knowing that her work is saving people's lives.
She supported many health emergencies, with each experience different from the other, most impressively in 2017 when the country faced an Ebola crisis.

"In 2017, WHO staff in the country increased considerably. I had to work harder to manage 73 contracts in a very short space of time. I had to take care of recruitment, preparing, assigning, and reassigning staff." she declares.

Thanks to ongoing training organized by the WHO Regional Office for Africa, Elizabeth acquired the necessary skills to support the country office staff in the appropriation and use of new internal tools, in particular The Employee Performance Management and Development System (EPMDS) and the Global Management System (GSM), which is the collaboration and workflow platform for WHO staff.

Working with WHO also means maintaining a stable social life

Elizabeth had her two children while working for WHO. As a working mother, balancing family and professional life has never been easy. According to her, working in the office during the day and looking after the baby at night is a big challenge for working mothers. What's more, having to meet important family commitments during the day while dealing with urgent matters at work requires a certain level of organization. "I arrived late to my baby's end-of-school-year party because I was so busy with work. As a result, I didn't see my daughter acting. Since that day, I've learned to give equal priority to my family and my work".

At WHO, Elizabeth says she's found a second family. "In 2019, when I returned home after a week in intensive care due to respiratory problems, I received a visit from the current WHO representative to Uganda, Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam," she explains. "This impressive gesture made me realize that beyond professional relationships, we are a family.

She says she has grown wiser over the years, and thanks Dr. Moeti, Dr. Yonas, the Human Resources department, her WHO colleagues, and her primary family for their unwavering support throughout the years.

“My advice to WHO staff and employees worldwide is to avoid unnecessary conflict, never miss an opportunity to learn, and to remain creative and open to challenges,” she says.

As she retires to enjoy the company of her five grandchildren, Elizabeth leaves behind a legacy of hard work and perseverance.