I started working in PEPFAR as Project Coordinator for the Modeling and Reinforcement to Combat HIV (MARCH) project in Ethiopia in 2006. I led a team of five members and coordinated the training of 1,400 police officers as peer leaders. I continued to be involved in PEPFAR as Public Health Coordinator at the United Nations High Commission for Refugees by implementing HIV programs for refugees. I joined USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDs in April 2018. Previously, I was the Technical Advisor for Strategic information at the USAID/PEPFAR LINKAGES Project within FHI360.
As a leader, my success is my team's success. I am humble and proud that we built a collaborative, diverse, and high performing data analytics team that provides data analytics support to OHA and over 50 USAID Missions. Our data analytics support drive target setting and resource allocation, performance monitoring and accountability, as well as storytelling and advocacy.
Providing care and treatment to people living with HIV and preventing others from contracting infections is not only professionally fulfilling but also is personal and serves as my life’s purpose. Each day at USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS is different and challenging, but it is also interesting and exciting to be making a difference globally.
I was born and raised in the hardest hit town by the HIV epidemic, Bahirdar, Ethiopia. I have seen many adult neighbors and relatives who were sick and died of HIV/AIDS. People were not aware of the epidemic, there was no testing service, no antiretroviral treatment (ART), or even medicines treating opportunistic infections. I recalled there were rumors that only the richest people in Addis Ababa had access to ART medicines. As a 10th grader, it was unimaginable to see that my dad was seriously sick and in bed without medicine in 1995, who died shortly thereafter. After a few years I lost my mom, also to HIV/AIDs, in 2001.
Last December, I went to my hometown after seven years, and I witnessed neighbors who luckily survived and received PEPFAR-supported medicines, who are living longer and supporting their family.
Thanks to PEPFAR, people living with HIV have access to the best available medicines, laboratory service, information, and care at their doorsteps. It is not as common to see several sick and skinny people as it was 20 years ago. People living with HIV/AIDS can now take care of themselves, their family, and their children.
Melaku Dessie is the Branch Chief for the Strategic Information Branch within the Strategic Information, Evaluation, and Informatics Division at USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS
