Haleemah OkusiBack to Member List

Member Name: Halimot-Sadia Okusi (Haleemah Okusi)

Pronouns: She/her/hers

NHC Program: NHC Central California

Host Site: Central Valley Health Network

Position Title: Capacity Builder / Community Health Liaison

Where are you from? I was born in Lagos State, Nigeria, and moved to the US in the summer of 2016. I currently reside in Fresno, CA, for the NHC program, but my family is based in Bakersfield, CA.

Why did you decide to join NHC? I decided to join NHC because I am interested in being a part of an organization that continues to implement resources and change to close the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. I had worked as a COVID canvasser during the pandemic lockdown, and it made me realize how much work was still needed to make the healthcare system beneficial, to serve those in underserved communities, and to help educate them on their medical rights.

What are you hoping to gain or learn during your service term? I hope to gain more knowledge and information on how to reshape the healthcare industry to ensure that its services are made available to every member of the community and to be equipped with the experience to educate community members on their medical rights.

What are you most looking forward to during your service term? I look forward to making connections with the diverse groups of people I will encounter on a daily basis, and I hope to challenge myself using this experience as there will be lots of new information and ideas all around me.