Dr Refilwe Sello Interview
Tell us briefly about yourself. (Childhood days, where you schooled, where you work and family):
I was born in Jubilee Hospital in Francistown to Mama Widzani Sello and Papa Mohapi Stephen Noah Sello. I grew up in Maitengwe, 400km from Francistown. I am a daughter, big sister, mother, medical doctor by profession, a creative passionate public health specialist and an agent of change for good.
I am a proud product of a Botswana’s public school system! I went to primary school across the country, completed primary school at St Bernard’s Mission Primary School in Ramotswa Station, aka Taung, Secondary School in Motswedi Senior Secondary School and Senior Secondary School at Ledumang Senior Secondary school where we were pioneers!
My childhood memories are of spending anytime with my grandparents, they had so much love and wisdom and taught me so much about life. I also still remember at ‘mantlwaneng where I played doctor all the time. I learnt a lot of lessons as a child, but most importantly: Respect your elders and respect everyone, maitseo, maitseo…, motho ke motho ka batho, listen to advise, when people advise you, it’s not because they are criticising you, they want to advise you so that you can improve, always look presentable, you can achieve anything you put your mind to, kalanga girl! Use your talents and skills for good. Choose to be an enthusiast. Education, Education, Education… key to success!
What motivated you to be a doctor? My grandmother and my family, initially, but growing up in the epicentre of HIV in Botswana, in the 90’s when there was so much suffering in the hospital wards and in the communities with funerals every weekend due to HIV, it was devastating to work and walk through the hospital wards as a young person and I decided I want to make a difference; I want to be a doctor so I can make a difference in communities. My family have always believed in me, so from a young age, I knew I wanted to be a doctor, but after working as a clinical doctor for so many years, specializing in public health was the only way to solve public health issues, in our era.
What is your area of specialty?
Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a huge focus on adolescent health and transition
What hardships did you have to overcome during your pursuit of your career?
I was the only female from Botswana in my group when I went to study medicine in the National University of Ireland, Galway, so that was a lot of pressure competing with males, who often times did not want to study with me, or let me join their study groups, so I had to be a self-tutor girl to achieve my goal of being a medical doctor. I always knew I wanted to be a public health specialist: this became evident when I did my public health internship in World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. After returning home to Botswana while practising as a first female physician in training at Botswana Baylor Children’s clinic and continuing to see my patients suffer because of systems that were not working, I decided to go and study public health even though I had no scholarship. I sold my car and used my savings to go and study in America and it was very challenging, but I persevered and completed my public health and tropical medicine training in the world renowned Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. While struggling with scholarship in America, I won the World Bank Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Award for recognition of my commitment to women and children, which is given to only 8 women in the world every year. This scholarship allowed me to pay for tuition for one semester in Public Health.
Through my challenges when I was working to achieve my career goals, I learnt a lot about myself, my resilience and how determined I can be.
What do you love about your job and what do you hate about it? I love public health! It is such a creative, rewarding career with endless opportunities especially when you have vast clinical experience. You are saving hundreds, thousands and million lives! I am a natural advocate for patients, all patients. FHI360 is my public health organization of choice. It has given me the opportunity to live my public health dream through working with hospitals, clinics, Department s of health both national and provincial and different communities. When I was studying in America, in Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, we read about our professors who were making a difference across the world through international organizations like FHI360 and I said, one day, I am going to work for Family Health International, FHI360, so when the opportunity came, I knew it was my time to join FHI360. I personally believe in the vision, mission and values of FHI360. A 360-degree perspective is required to address complex human development needs. The science of improving lives. FHI360 has an excellent work ethic and HR policy and allows you to use your talents and skills to effect change. As a Technical Advisor in FHI360, South Africa office in Pretoria. I am the technical lead for the Prevention Technologies Agreement which includes Sexual Reproductive Health and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, Care and support including Palliative Care and Integrated Access to Care and Support and Mobile Services unit. My job is very interesting, complex and requires me to act very fast and make high level decisions to impact populations from communities, nationally and globally. The challenge sometimes is that I may have to be at 2 places at the same time, which can be a challenge especially if I am working in different province-but I may resolve that with a conference call or online meeting.
What legacy do you want to leave behind? I have contributed immensely to HIV prevention, treatment and care through my work at Botswana Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence and my work in Botswana but the fight continues. I want to be part of the generation that realises UNAIDS’s vision of “Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination, and Zero AIDS-related Death and Zero discrimination against people living with HIV’. I want to see brighter futures for adolescents born and living with HIV and for all adolescents. I have no tolerance for anyone who discriminates against people living with HIV. I will continue to work in different avenues to advocate for people living with HIV at every single opportunity.
What are your career goals for the next 5 years? I have a lot of dreams and I am working towards living all of them. My public health vision is very clear. I strive to be a world-class leader in public health. In 2-3 years, I will be into regional work and in 5 years I will be an international public health civil servant consulting for the UN and other NGOS. I plan to retire by the time I am 45 years old and venture more into youth development projects.
Is there any community outreach program that you’re part of? I love mentoring young people and motivate young people, because I have so many mentors myself and learn a lot from my mentors. I believe in transfer of skills, so any chance I get, I transfer my skills through voluntary work. I mentor clinics and health care workers across Africa on HIV prevention, treatment and support with a focus on Adolescent and Transition and advocate for all adolescents at every single opportunity. I am just back from Zambia, where I was mentoring health care workers in Mazabuka. I also have a clinic I constantly mentor through the Paediatric Aids Treatment for Africa (PATA) in Gauteng. It’s a way to give back to the community. We all have to play our part by giving back with our talents and resources.
What are your thoughts about the health system of Botswana? The government of Botswana has invested a lot into health and continuing to do so. The health system in Botswana is doing well compared to other countries, but there is always room for improvement. I would like to see our governments and communities move from seeing HIV in isolation and focus more on integrating programs. HIV is a chronic disease and people living with HIV can live a healthy productive life if they are diagnosed in time, adhere to their treatment and get psychosocial support with strong referral linkages for other services other than HIV. It really is all Care and Support. Now I am in charge of Care and Support in FHI360 , South Africa and I am excited to influence individuals, communities, policy, governments, both national and provincial and district level to support and link health care facilities and communities including schools, churches and spiritual leaders.
What advice can you give young people out there who are interested in being doctors? There are different kinds of doctors. Being a doctor is rewarding no matter what kind of doctor you are. If you decide to be a doctor, at whatever age, whether in primary or secondary or even tertiary, get the grades: do whatever it takes to get into medical school. When you get accepted into a medical school, stay and complete what you started and graduate. After you graduate, decide for yourself what kind of a doctor you want to be, do not follow the crowd, set your own bar. If you are passionate about your field of work, you will easily excel. Secure your future with education and life skills. 1. Believe in yourself 2. Believe in people who love you when they tell you to believe in yourself.3. Focus ahead and most importantly, Trust in God. NEVER EVER GIVE UP.
