Naomi Dick Kaba’s Story
Hakili Nafaya Institute, Côte d'Ivoire
I am a public health specialist, advocacy expert, and dedicated activist for women's rights in Africa. A Doctor of Pharmacy, I also hold a Master’s degrees in Public Health and International Relations, specializing in Gender & Development.
After an international career focused on improving sexual and reproductive health access in sub-Saharan Africa, my personal experiences - both as a caregiver for relatives with psychiatric disorders and as a survivor of perinatal depression - reshaped my mission.
Determined to dismantle the taboos surrounding women's mental health, I founded the Hakili Nafaya Institute. This center focuses on:
Research & Advocacy: Elevating mental health as a public health priority in Francophone Africa.
Training: Developing care models adapted to local realities.
De-stigmatization: Eradicating the mystification of mental illness within communities.
As the Secretary General of the Ivorian chapter of Women in Global Health, I actively promote female leadership in the health sector. My influence has earned me prestigious recognitions, including being named a Young Leader by the French-African Foundation and a 2024 Women in Africa laureate.
Please share your reflections on what you've learned and you would like to share with our global community.
As Executive Director of Hakili Nafaya Institute, one of the most important lessons I have learned is that advocacy is not a moment, it is a strategic, long-term process. It requires intentionally engaging decision-makers across political, institutional, economic, and social spheres, while simultaneously shaping public opinion and working with community influencers. Sustainable change happens when policy influence and social transformation move together.
Another key lesson is the power of collective action. Through initiatives such as the Francophone Alliance for Perinatal Mental Health, we have seen how uniting organizations across countries strengthens credibility, legitimacy, and impact. A regional platform allows us to amplify our shared voice, exchange tools and knowledge, and coordinate advocacy efforts beyond national silos. In Francophone Africa, where mental health is often under-prioritized, speaking together shifts the narrative from isolated initiatives to a coherent movement.
At the community level, the Taki Experience profoundly shaped our understanding of lived experience engagement. It demonstrated that listening is an act of care. Creating culturally safe spaces for women to speak about perinatal distress revealed how storytelling itself can be healing. More than that, storytelling became a powerful advocacy tool: personal narratives humanize policy debates, challenge stigma, and influence how mental health is understood in our societies.
What I would share with the global community is this: advocacy must be systemic, collective, and rooted in lived experience. When policy reform, regional solidarity, and community storytelling intersect, mental health becomes a social movement.
What has been your favourite moment as a member of GMHAN?
My favorite moment as a member of the Action Network has been the opportunity to connect with and learn from organizations around the world that champion women’s mental health. I’m deeply grateful to be part of a global community working collectively to advance equity, care, and advocacy.
Stories can change lives. Share your story with our network and inspire action