ENGLISH - QUESTIONS TO: SHAMIM NABUUMA KALISSA Social Entrepreneur x Cancer Activist
SHAMIM NABUUMA KALISSA IS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED “MAMA CANCER”
THIS MILLENIAL, ORIGINALLY FROM UGANDA, WENT FROM BATTLING AND SURVIVING CANCER TO BUILDING AWARENESS AROUND THIS DISEASE AND HELPING WOMEN IN REMOTE COMMUNITIES RECEIVE MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS.
SHE FOUNDED COMMUNITY HEALTH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE LAB ( CHIL AI LAB) OUT OF PASSION AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. HER COMPANY OFFERS MOBILE CANCER SCREENINGS AND INCORPORATES AI TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD.
WE HAD AN HONEST CONVERSATION AND GOT TO CHAT ABOUT VARIOUS SUBJECTS FROM THE EFFECT OF COUNTRY LOCKDOWN ON HER ACTIVITIES, TO THE REASONS MOTIVATING HER TO HELP BRING MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN REMOTE AREAS AFTER HAVING HERSELF SURVIVED CANCER BUT ALSO ABOUT THE THREATS SHE IS RECEIVING FROM THE INDUSTRY.
“For me, to be “Hyperconscious” is to be concerned about what’s happening and having a positive impact in communities around us. ”
— SHAMIM
How are you handling the lockdown?
I believe lockdown due to Covid-19 presents advantages and disadvantages. If I were to speak on my case, which I know remains an exception, I have seen an increase in terms of demand. Everyone being at home, they tend to have increased their overall internet related services consumption.
This naturally translates to more and more people seeking alternative ways of getting medical consultations and advice. I believe that even after the lockdown, this pace will be maintained and sectors linked to the internet will continue to boom. However, there is a risk that people, lockdown now have to prioritize daily living expenses like food, rather than health-related ones.
What’s your daily routine?
Honestly, I don’t have a daily routine, I just try to continuously keep on moving. I stand out and put my story out there. I naturally adapted to the new circumstances and try to remain proactive on social media to keep touching more and more women in communities in Uganda and the world.
Staying in movement is the key to being an entrepreneur, it’s all about adapting and creating practical solutions at the end of the day.
Could you present yourself in a few words?
My name is Shamim Nabuuma Kalissa and I am the founder of Chil AI LAB, a company I started based on my personal experience.
I lost my mother to cancer when I was 13 years old, and she wanted me to continue to do big things, it’s exactly what I’m trying to do.
If she had the money and proper structure to anticipate the medical examinations, she would maybe still be alive.
That was my initial motivation, I started to study medicine to become a doctor, with the clear intention to help women facing the same situation my mother did.
How did you react to your cancer diagnosis?
It was frightening! As I was growing I started to develop symptoms of breast pain during my second year of college. My immediate reflex, thanks to my mother's experience was to go see a Doctor. I later got the confirmation that I had cancer.
It was a surreal moment, my first thought was that I had wasted all these years and that I was about to die. I didn’t want to relive my mother’s experience.
From then on I was on a mission.
Can you explain?
I started to make camps in villages, with the help of doctors and overall medical staff for populations to receive check-ups and educate them with basic knowledge concerning cancer.
How did you manage to convince doctors at the early stage?
It wasn’t easy, at the beginning I invested all of my student allowance in my project. Quickly, I realized it wasn’t going to be enough, so I decided to ask women members of parliament for partnerships. These MPs were touched by my initiative, as women they were more sensitive to my actions.
That’s how we organically grew.
How do you manage to overcome these personal and entrepreneurial challenges?
My secret and my advice to others would be to never give up, I never gave up. I believe that individuals that make in impact, all have that common trait.
In life and as an entrepreneur, there isn’t any straight journey.
We all have to face challenges, the real question is “How to overcome it ?”, in case of failure we should ask ourselves “How can I do better next time?”
Everything I do is out of passion as well, and that helps me to keep going and stimulate my team.
You’ve helped thousands of women get diagnosed for cancer, could you explain to us how your past experiences stimulates your will to help people in communities?
It’s pretty simple, it gives me the energy and passion I need.
I know what I’m talking about because I’ve been personally affected. This naturally translates into persistence and will to positively impact daily.
The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Google, and more recently Forbes Africa have already acclaimed you for the actions you are taking in favor of communities in Uganda. The Ugandan Government through Sarah Ofendi former Health Minister even praised your work in a recent interview.
Do these words materialize in financial support?
In an ideal world, the Government should be supporting us, but it’s not the case. I have to talk with energy to convince officials to do something. At the end of the day, I just say to myself that I’m an entrepreneur and that I have to find the proper alternative.
How could the public sector do a better job?
Leaders need to develop better strategies to help entrepreneurs. They should give the Youth, the incentives needed to prosper, by not doing so, they are leaving so many potential change-makers without support. As a female, the challenge is at another level.
In advanced economies, the public sector is supportive of the private sector, but also the private sector to the private sector. In Africa, it’s just starting to be the case, thanks to foundations like the Tony Elumelu Foundation leading the way.
Before CHIL, you founded Community Dental Reproduction Health. What made you want to take it to another level?
The initial idea with CDRH was to offer dental services and to build cancer awareness (through screening services).
The idea came after having made the observation that dental services in remote communities were generally ignored which is problematic. However, after a certain time, I decided to focus on cancer, because of it’s more brutal and deadly dimension. The amount of people dying of cancer in Africa is alarming, especially because the reflex to go see a Doctor for a normal check-up isn’t as developed as in Western countries.
You’re working in a male-dominated environment, what’s the most difficult obstacle you have to face?
As a female, you are often doubted and have to face a lot of skepticism, however, I encourage every female to at least try. I strive to show the nay-sayers that men and females can have a positive impact, if allowed to do so. Intimidations is something I also have to overcome, before my initiatives profesionals were exploiting cancer patients with high diagnostic pricing. Since my initiatives are being spotlighted, I am receiving life threats by does who feel bothered by my actions.
CHIL AI LAB will remain, and I will continue to touch women’s lives, even if it means I have to take a lot of risks.
How does it feel to take action in such a meaningful way daily?
Awesome! I’m blessed enough to wake up every morning, and do something I love and genuinely care about.
I have the chance to help women, and not only have a positive effect on them, but also their entire families. My main objective is to have fewer and fewer people live what I went through.
This platform is called “Leshyperconscients”, What is your definition of a Hyperconscious individual?
That’s an interesting question! I guess it would have to be someone concerned about what’s happening in the world, in neighboring communities but most importantly someone working towards change, no matter what field he or she works in. If you are trying to create an impact and are going ahead to do, and take action then for me, you are Hyperconscious.
Feel free to support Shamim’s initiative, and participate in helping build cancer awareness around the world and contact Community Health Care Innovation Lab. “Every penny counts”
Contact : +256758403065
- I dedicate this interview to H and S, cancer survivors, real life heroes and personal inspirations-