Kate Schroder
Name: Kate Schroder
Position: Country Manager
Location: Zambia
Several years before joining CHAI, I read Mountains Beyond Mountains, the biography on Dr. Paul Farmer, and was inspired by his work tacking health care challenges in the developing world. Having worked in US health care industry for several years, I began to consider new opportunities in international health.
What first drew me to the Clinton Foundation was its approach: bringing private sector analytics to bear in a developing world context, and I figured that my background in both public and private sector health care would help provide me the skills to have an impact. After completing my undergraduate degree at Indiana University, I spent three years in national politics on Capitol Hill, working for Senator Evan Bayh (IN) and in local politics in Cincinnati. I then received an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania and went to work for the Advisory Board Company as a consultant, where we conducted best practice research for US hospitals. The work was similar to the Clinton Foundation, in that it is mission driven and dedicated to improving health care performance.
When offered the opportunity to work for the Clinton Foundation as the Country Manager for Zambia, I jumped at the chance. Sure, it would be a pay cut, but it would also be an opportunity to work in a fast-paced, challenging, results-driven environment - with incredibly talented colleagues and partners. I figured, of all the problems in the world to work on, why not dedicate myself to one the most challenging ones?
When I began working for CHAI in March 2007, I helped to open our Zambia office. In the early days, we were a two-person operation laying the groundwork for our two primary programs-procurement and pediatric HIV/AIDS. Through our partnership with UNITAID, CHAI is bringing in ARVs (antiretroviral drugs) for children and adults in Zambia. In addition, we are partnering with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to increase access to treatment for pediatric HIV/AIDS patients-in support of the MOH's goal to more than double the number of children accessing treatment. To help the MOH achieve this goal, we've provided support on the rollout of early infant diagnosis, routine counseling and testing for children, trainings in pediatric antiretroviral therapy, and access to improved pediatric ARV formulations.
Over the course of our first year in Zambia, the CHAI office has grown to six employees and also expanded our work to include malaria. While there is no "typical" day, long hours and rewarding work are consistently present. Most days, I wake up by 5:30AM and spend the first few hours responding to emails and preparing for the day. During business hours, I spend my time meeting with government and NGO partners, preparing written and quantitative analysis in support of MOH initiatives, participating in technical working groups, ensuring timely, efficient delivery of UNITAID commodities and a rapid response to inevitable procurement hiccups, and (of course) battling with less-than-ideal communication technology. At night, I catch up on local and international news and often have phone calls with HQ staff in the US. At the end of the day, when I can't go any further, I fall asleep so that I can wake up and do it again the next day. It's a demanding lifestyle, but I enjoy every minute of it (except when I am fighting with slow, slow internet).
The best part of my job is the impact that we are having-the numbers and the patient stories. In 2007, the MOH-in collaboration with CHAI, UNICEF, and many other excellent partners-increased the number of children accessing treatment by over 6000. The numbers of health facilities offering early infant diagnosis of HIV increased from about 20 sites to over 200 sites - identifying an additional 2000 HIV positive infants (children who would have had a 50% chance of making to two years of age if untreated). In addition to the numbers, I am moved by the stories-for example, the story of three brave young women who went to get HIV tests after a youth outreach event - even though their boyfriends "wouldn't like it." Or the story of Memory Phiri, a young woman who contracted HIV from being raped at a young age; after her mental and physical health deteriorated significantly, she started on ARVs and now confidently explains-to her peers, to young children, and to anyone who will listen-that HIV is just a mere passenger in her body and that she is the driver-that she "chooses life" and has a wonderful one thanks to the ARVs. Memory's story, and the many, many others like it, keep me inspired on a daily basis. They make the long hours and daily blend of small victories and setbacks worth it. Most of all, they remind us why we do what we do.
