Jessie Yunus: Turning Global Health into Local Change

Jessie Yunus’ journey is defined by a clear sense of purpose, rooted in social justice, public health and human rights. What began as a curiosity about social issues has evolved into a career at the intersection of global health and community service. Today, she works to translate global frameworks into practical and locally driven solutions that create lasting impact.  

Her interest in social issues emerged quite early. Through her involvement in school-based community service and fundraising initiatives, Jessie began to question how these efforts could move beyond one-off activities to create lasting change. Over time, this question became a turning point, driving her to pursue a path into more sustained, scalable and embedded within systems.  

She began her academic journey in Nursing at Calvin University, building a strong technical foundation in community health. During her studies, she developed not only clinical competencies but also critical thinking skills in population health and prevention. Her commitment and potential were later recognised through the Australia Awards Scholarship, enabling her to pursue a Masters of Public Health and Health Management at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

A Transformative Shift

Studying in Australia marked a significant shift in Jessie’s professional trajectory. Transitioning from a clinical background into public health, she realised that health extends beyond medical services, and is a foundation for equity and social justice.

During her pre-departure training, a critical question stayed with her: why do health inequalities persist despite significant investment and resources? This curiosity led her to focus on HIV, an area where biomedical challenges intersect deeply with social, cultural and political dynamics.  

At UNSW, Jessi was exposed to a collaborative ecosystem where government, academia, civil society and communities work in partnership. She observed that communities were not merely beneficiaries but also an active agent in leading research, shaping policies and advocating for their rights. This experience sharpened her understanding of inclusive government and reinforced the importance of co-designing health programmes.

Exposure to leading institutions such as the Kirby Institute and the Centre for Social Research in Health broadened her perspective beyond clinical care. She developed a nuanced understanding of how gender, stigma, culture and inequality shape health outcomes. These perspectives strengthen her ability to approach complex challenges through an interdisciplinary lens.

Equally important, Jessie built practical skills in planning and evaluation. She became proficient in programme logic, monitoring and evaluation framework, tools that are critical for delivering effective and accountable health interventions. 

Driving Impact in Indonesia’s HIV Response

Returning to Indonesia, Jessie applied both her technical expertise and strategic insight to strengthen HIV programmes. Her work spans policy advocacy, capacity building for healthcare providers and improving supply chain systems. These works are critical to ensure the services are not only available for targeted communities but also accessible and responsive.

She also collaborated closely with civil society organisations to strengthen patient education and reduce stigma, with the broader goal of ensuring that people living with HIV can achieve the same life expectancy and quality of life as the general population.

One of her notable contributions includes supporting research on oral fluid testing to increase HIV testing uptake through Yayasan Kerti Praja. Conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative demonstrated how innovation and adaptability can bridge service delivery gaps in challenging contexts.  

Her work continued at Family Health International (FHI) 360, where she served as a Technical Officer and Program Coordinator for the Epidemic Control (EpiC) Project. Working within multidisciplinary teams, Jessie provided technical assistance to government health offices, hospitals and primary health centres (puskesmas). She played a key role in translating global recommendations into operational strategies tailored to Indonesia’s context, demonstrating both strategic thinking and an acute understanding of local realities.

Embedding Human Rights in Health Systems

Jessie’s experience in HIV programming reinforced a critical insight: health outcomes are inseparable from issues of stigma, exclusion and inequality. This realisation led her to her current role at WHO, where she works to integrate gender equality, human rights, health equity and disability inclusion into public health systems.

Her work now operates within an even more complex policy environment, addressing issues such as disability inclusion, gender-based violence and reproductive rights. A key aspect of her work involves identifying and prioritising vulnerable populations, ensuring that policies and programmes are informed by those most affected. She supports the use of disaggregated data and inclusive methodologies to translate high-level principles into actionable, measurable interventions.

The Power of Data and Evidence

For Jessie, data is not just a number; it is transformative. She highlights the importance of disaggregated data in uncovering hidden inequalities and enabling targeted interventions.

In Indonesia’s HIV response, such data has been instrumental in identifying key populations and tailoring outreach strategies. Without it, entire communities risk being excluded from national health priorities.

At the same time, she recognises the challenges. Indonesia’s health information is extensive, but often fragmented. Jessie advocates for greater integration and digital innovation to ensure that data can be effectively translated into policy and practice.

Health for All

Jessie’s work aligns closely with the WHO vision of ‘Health for All.’ This vision sees health not merely as the absence of illness, but as a fundamental human right encompassing mental, physical and social well-being.

In the Indonesian context, the vision presents both opportunities and challenges. The country’s diversity allows for locally tailored solutions yet also requires strong coordination and adaptive policy approaches.

Within this landscape, Jessie continues to emphasise the importance of collaboration, community engagement and effective communication. She understands that lasting impact depends not only on strong technical design, but also on trust, partnership and shared ownership.

Jessi Yunus’s journey illustrates how curiosity, integrity and a commitment to inclusion can evolve into impactful leadership in global health. From clinical beginnings to shaping policy and systems, she represents a generation of professionals who are not only technically capable but also driven to create meaningful change.