From expectation to strength: A young mother’s journey of hope

International professional staff in WHO are expected to be able to work anywhere in the world. For some, it can be an exciting prospect, while for others, it can be daunting, fraught with challenges and uncertainties, all of which can be magnified even further when someone is an expecting mother assigned to a hardship duty station. Someone like Tambudzai Theresa Mutale.

Theresa first arrived in Solomon Islands in 2024 to work as the Partnerships and External Relations Officer. She is responsible for coordinating and reinforcing partnerships and ensuring donor visibility, among others. Always with a ready smile and laughter to share, Theresa is a constant ray of sunshine and currently, six months pregnant.

14,010 kilometres removed from family and the familiarity of Lusaka

When she accepted the job offer, Theresa said she knew it was going to be an adventure but that she was not ready for how profoundly it would mold her journey as a woman, wife, and now an expecting mother. "Moving from Zambia to this small Pacific Island nation with my husband in July 2024, I was filled with anticipation and excitement. But life soon presented challenges that tested my resilience in ways I never imagined," said Theresa.

Farewell, little one

"In August 2024, just weeks after settling into a new chapter in my life, I suffered a miscarriage. It was a deeply painful experience, one that left me grappling with grief, while navigating the demands of a new role in a duty station that's far from home," Theresa recalled with sadness.

"Handling the miscarriage was one of the most difficult experiences of my life. I felt an overwhelming sense of loss and isolation. But I am grateful for many sources of support that came my way. Ben, my husband, was my anchor, providing unwavering emotional and physical care. My colleagues at WHO, especially our WHO Representative Dr Howard Sobel, my supervisor Dinesh Jeyakumaran, and many others who understood the unique pressures of working in a challenging duty station, offered compassion and solidarity," said Theresa.

Coping with loss

Theresa also sought counselling from WHO to support her mental health. "Receiving counselling was crucial in dealing with my grief and regaining my strength. I also firmly held onto my faith, believing that I will heal and be able to hope again," she said. Theresa knows many women share her experience. "To any woman who has faced a similar loss: you are not alone, and it is never your fault. Allow yourself to grieve, seek support when you need it, and know that healing is possible," said Theresa.

Baby number two on the way

Theresa's hope bore fruit when she discovered that she was pregnant once again. Naturally, she approached it with both joy and apprehension. "Being pregnant in Solomon Islands, where maternal health services face unique challenges, has further deepened my appreciation for the work we do at WHO," said Theresa. "Strengthening health systems to ensure every mother-no matter where she lives-can access the care she needs, is crucial." Theresa's new baby also made her deeply admire the resilience of the women in Solomon Islands. She said their strength helps to fuel her drive to improve health outcomes for all.

Theresa at her baby shower in the office days before going on maternity leave. Photo: WHO/R. Serrano

Coping with challenges; men as partners

"Solomon Islands, with its breath-taking natural beauty, is also a remote and resource-limited setting, making access to timely and specialized healthcare very important," said Theresa. "The challenges of being an expecting mother here are real and the isolation, lack of familiar Zambian foods I crave such as nshima, river fish, local fruits and vegetables, are huge emotional hurdles," she added.

Thankfully, Theresa has learned how to cope. "I attend regular antenatal checkups at the local health facility, stay physically active with daily walks, eat locally available nutritious meals, and prioritize rest. These have been vital to ensure the health of my baby and myself," said Theresa.

Theresa also stressed the importance of involving men. "Ben has been my rock. He shared in my joys and tribulations, taking me to appointments, offering reassurances on difficult days. It showed that men play a part, too, in supporting maternal health both in families and communities," said Theresa. She added that: "By involving men, maternal health becomes a shared responsibility, helping to create stronger, healthier families and societies."

Strengthening partnerships to achieve quality maternal health care for all

"My role at WHO gave me a unique perspective on the impact of maternal health programmes. Securing funding and fostering collaboration with partners and donors is vital to improving access to quality healthcare for mothers and babies," said Theresa. For instance, Theresa is involved in a maternal and newborn healthcare project supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Solomon Islands. She said that by advocating for resources and building strategic alliances, she is helping to support maternal health services, thereby making a difference in families' and women's lives in Solomon Islands and beyond.

Theresa coordinates and reinforces partnerships and helps ensure donor visibility. Photo: WHO/R. Serrano

Reflecting on this year's World Health Day theme

Theresa said that this year's World Health Day theme focused on maternal health made her appreciate even more what it means to be a mother and a health advocate, especially in a challenging duty station. "To all women who are navigating motherhood in difficult situations, let's be there for each other and call for systems that ensure all mothers receive the quality care that they deserve. Let's champion every mother's courage and work to achieve a world where maternal health is a universal priority for mothers to enjoy, wherever they may be."

As of this writing, Theresa and her baby are doing fine. Theresa, Ben, and their baby are due to meet each other sometime in July 2025 in Zambia, ready to create memories filled with joy, hope and resilience, together.