Aline Aurore Niyibizi (34) from Rwanda is pursuing a master’s in Medicine/Nursing at the University of Stellenbosch.
Aline was born in Rwanda, but her family fled the country when she was very young. She grew up in Burundi as the youngest of eight children. Her mother was an inspiration role model as she valued education and equal opportunities for both boys and girls. At age ten her family returned to Rwanda and there she experienced being both a refugee and a “returnee”. She also witnessed how a country that was reduced to near nothing was able to rebuild itself. She later observed that it was women who took the lead on this rebuilding of society, particularly of families communities.
During her undergraduate studies at the University of Rwanda, she discovered her calling. It was from overhearing an exchange between two women on the life-threatening experience of giving birth that inspired her to become an obstetrician-gynecologist.
Aline has always been devoted to community health projects, particularly in the reproductive health of rural women. She co-founded an outreach project that informed women on contraceptives. Furthermore, the organization visited rural schools to motivate young girls to pursue education in the sciences and to educate them in sexual and reproductive health.
Aline worked for humanitarian organizations in other African nations that gave her the opportunity to diversify her skills and acquire cultural sensitivities on women’s health issues. Additionally, Aline worked with Doctors Without Borders where she was involved in research of women’s health especially on the effects of maternal care programs on maternal health.
Upon graduation, Aline aspires to take on a leadership role in advocating for contraceptive use in women’s health and reproductive lives. She views a lack of initiatives by government in her country in this public health issue.
