The humanitarian heroDrSonia Adesara, 29, is a junior doctor and
campaignerwho believes everybody should
have access to healthcare. As part of the
DoctorsFor Choice UK team, she campaigns
for the decriminalisation of abortion. The
#AskHerToStanddirector is also passionate
about encouraging women from diverse
backgrounds to enter politics, as well as
endingNHS charging for migrants and
reducing racism in hospitals.Tragedyshaped my career.My aunt died in
hospitalwhen she was 23 and, to this day, we don’t
know why. After investigating, my mother was told
hersister’s notes had ‘got lost’. This made me want
to provide the best possible care to every patient.
Sometimes,being a troublemaker is a good
thing.Don’t be afraid to speak out. I use Twitter as
a way of getting views out and raising awareness.
I also do the tweets for Doctors For Choice UK, trying
to counter misinformation and share facts around
abortion. I remember learning at school that, prior to
the NHS, people used to die of preventable illnesses
because they couldn’t afford healthcare. I think I knew
then that it was something I wanted to be part of.
Find your inspiration.My grandma shaped my
career and life. Born in a village in India, her parents
diedwhen she was eight, and she was married off to
a much older and abusive man. As a teenager, she left
himand arrived in Uganda illiterate and with a baby,
determinedto make a better life. When I find myself
questioningmyself or what people think of me,
I think of her. She didn’t make those sacrifices
for me to take my privileges for granted.
Be curious.A couple of years ago, I volunteered for
an outreach clinic in London and saw the impact
a hostile environment, NHS charging and
immigration policies have on people living on
our streets. A young woman who’d been trafficked
toldme she was too scared to get help in case she
was detained or deported. The experience made
me adamant that our immigration policies were
wrong and inhumane, and led me to campaign
with other doctors to end them.