In order to fulfil her dream of becoming a doctor in Uganda, Loyce Faith Nangiro, a resolute young woman, has defied parental restrictions and social conventions.
Loyce encountered many challenges as a child growing up in a society that valued marriage over education. Her father made it clear that she was expected to care for the family’s animals rather than go to school. Loyce muses, “I longed for more, but I was not permitted to study while other kids went to classes.”
She took matters into her own hands when she was just five years old and secretly enrolled in a nearby primary school.
Loyce had advanced far in her studies by the time her father discovered her secret, so it was challenging for him to extract her.
Loyce’s family had alternative plans for her, despite her desire to become a doctor. They believed it was time for her to get married and start a family. “No one took my vision seriously. When marriage was a possibility, many believed that attending a five-year university was useless,” she said.
There had never been a female doctor in my village. Discussions had already started, and cows for my dowry had already been reserved. However, Loyce said, “I was determined to become the first doctor here and be an inspiration to other young girls.”
Despite facing financial difficulties as a result of her family’s rejection, Loyce persisted and kept applying for scholarships. She eventually received a private grant to pursue pharmacy rather than medicine. She recognised that pharmacy was not her main passion, despite her appreciation for the chance. She bravely went to the university, unfazed:
“I will end up in the city if I study pharmacy, but I can help my community, which is in dire need of doctors, if I pursue medicine.”
Her perseverance paid off, as she was accepted into the University of Uganda’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery program. She pursued her dream with the help of two kind people who paid for her tuition.
Loyce earned his medical degree after five years of arduous work. She found pleasant working conditions and a well-paying job in Italy rather fast. But she made the shocking decision to leave her new job after only ten days.
“Everyone believed I had gone insane—excellent compensation, perfect surroundings—but I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do. I didn’t imagine myself caring for affluent patients in a private hospital. In the meantime, my hometown had trouble getting even the most basic medical treatment,” Loyce said.
She returned to her roots and started volunteering at Amudat Hospital after discovering her love, giving her abilities to the very community that had previously questioned her aspirations.
In the future, Loyce hopes to give local females resources and educational help. She intends to pursue a paediatrics master’s degree in addition to a medical profession, and then public health and research degrees.
CREDIT: ALLSCHOOL, Allschoolabs
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