Faces of WHO – Melda

Melda with her husband

Melda Keçik, WHO Country Office, Turkey

8 June 2021

Melda Keçik joined the WHO Country Office in Turkey in 2018, where she works as a National Professional Officer, focusing on refugee and migrant health projects. A pharmacist by profession with a passion for learning, Melda has one PhD in toxicology in her pocket and another PhD in public health in the making – while also taking course modules at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Nonetheless, one of her most important teachers in life has proven to be her six-year-old daughter. In this interview, Melda talks about what inspires her and stresses the importance of taking care of one’s mental well-being.

What brought you to WHO?

Working for a United Nations organization has always been a dream for me, and because I am a health professional, WHO was of course my natural goal. Ever since I was a child, I have felt that I’m here to serve people in one way or another. On a more concrete level, following my maternity leave, I was set to attend a symposium on antibiotic use arranged by my department at the Ministry of Health where I used to work. This led to joint project activities on antimicrobial resistance with WHO in Turkey. During one of the activities, chatting with some of the WHO staff, I just asked, “Is there any chance for people like me, not superheroes, to work for WHO?” They were very kind and said, “Yes, of course, you’ve got the right experience...!”, and encouraged me to apply. I never thought it would become reality, but one day I saw a vacancy posted, I applied – and it happened! With a little bit of hard work, faith and luck, anything is possible.

How has your work affected others?

I work mainly with projects under the umbrella of the Refugee Health Programme, run by the WHO Country Office in Turkey and the Turkish Ministry of Health. As you may know, Turkey hosts more than three million Syrian refugees. The Refugee Health Programme provides culturally and linguistically sensitive health services to Syrian refugees, and helps Syrian health workers integrate in Turkey so that they can practise their professions while helping their fellow countrymen and women. One of the projects I worked on employed Turkish physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists and social workers to provide health services to refugees. I remember one little girl, maybe five years old, who had difficulties using her hands and arms, and her condition vastly improved thanks to the physiotherapist employed through our programme. She also features in a touching video the staff produced together. It felt great – it was a project I had contributed to, it was fantastic and very emotional – I cried so much! We had hired young and motivated professional people to specifically serve vulnerable groups; through the programme, the health professionals were able to find a job; and there I was, seeing how they, in turn, were able to touch people’s lives and turn things around for the better. It was very bittersweet when that project came to an end and we couldn’t re-hire them.

That must have been hard. What keeps you going through difficult times?

My family. My daughter is my inner compass and a reminder that, as an adult and her parent, I am responsible for her future. And as a health-care professional with my background, I also have an obligation to contribute and give back to society. This sentiment transcends my work, and I constantly remind myself about this obligation, telling myself, “Yes! You can do it! Don’t forget why you are here.” My job is more than just a job. We serve the people, and we serve our loved ones. I remember one exchange, when my babysitter said that I work for others and that she was happy to help me out by working for me. I instantly told her, “No, I’m working for you.” I worked for the Ministry for Health, and now I am proud to work for WHO. I work to protect the right of all people to access safe and affordable medicines, and by working for WHO, you really work not only for your own country, but for the whole world.

How do you take care of your own health?

I had never been a sporty person or practised any sport whatsoever, but, possibly because of the pandemic, I bought myself Pilates lessons for my birthday. I was very nervous so I told the trainer that I was a complete beginner and asked if we could give it a try for one lesson to see how it goes. She was very understanding and reassuring, and I ended up genuinely liking the class. I have kept it up and I can really feel the effects! It was a huge personal achievement and a confidence boost.

But physical health is just one part of the equation. All too often we don’t take care of our mental health sufficiently, and even though we talk about it a lot, it’s not easy to admit to ourselves that we need help. After giving birth, I suffered a bad case of postpartum depression. I was in bad shape and experienced a lot of anxiety – and since I was breastfeeding, I couldn’t take antidepressants. Luckily, I managed to get help through psychotherapy sessions, which was amazing! They changed me, my life, and my perspective. I was able to handle and cope with past traumas and learned to understand my own reactions and emotions. I have been growing side by side with my daughter, who is a brilliant person, and she’s very good with emotions. I often end up copying her! Children are spontaneous, they have no filter and they are honest. My daughter and I read books together, discussing feelings and why people feel one way or another, and it’s great to hear her thoughts. The lesson here is to listen to yourself and pay attention to your mental health.

Thank you for sharing – there’s still too much silence and stigma surrounding mental health.

Yes. That’s why we need to continue to talk about it.

It’s time for your book tip.

It would be “The Drama of the Gifted Child” by Alice Miller. It’s a book I might not have been able to read one year ago. I tried two years ago but couldn’t get through it – I had to close the book, it was like a Pandora’s box triggering my anxiety. Now I am able to read it and be at peace. And it’s an extremely interesting book to raise awareness.

Who – present or historical – would you go out with for dinner?

Hmm. It would be my husband. I don’t think I would like to talk to any specific famous person. My husband is absolutely my first, spontaneous answer. Restaurants in Turkey are opening up after a long lockdown, and it would be so nice to have dinner with him.

WHO Country Office Turkey

  • Number of staff: 46 (WHO Country Office, located in Ankara) and 27 (WHO Field Office, located in Gaziantep)
  • Operating since: 1959
  • Key focus areas: refugee response, health security, mental health, NCDs and risk factors
  • The WHO Country Office in Turkey is the oldest WHO Country Office, operating with the largest budget and staffing in the WHO European Region.