Member Spotlight: Alekat Sarah Gladys

30 April 2026

This conversation is part of our TRC Member Spotlight series. Following are excerpts from a discussion with Alekat Sarah Gladys, valued TRC member and Clinical Midwife who currently serves as in Soroti, Uganda.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and provide a brief overview of your professional background and current role?

Describe some of the work you have been undertaking in the field of mental health and resilience.

Mental health is still a vacant ground in our setting, but I have often sacrificed to be the voice of the voiceless. I have written articles and spoken in forums about the wellbeing of health workers and the patients they serve. My major concern is the wellbeing of nurses and midwives, who are often made to feel like a low cadre of professionals. Personally, I have faced many challenges in my workplace, but my patients appreciate me, and that keeps me firm. My inner courage helps me defy the odds and work toward a better environment for health workers.

According to you, how can one develop a team’s resilience?

To develop resilience, one must first understand it and be resilient themselves. Leaders should draw from their own experiences and keep an open mindset—ready to learn, unlearn, and teach others. A seasoned leader can guide the team through participation and involvement. Resilience is about coping with hard situations by navigating positivity over negativity. It’s important to know your team members individually, understand their potentials, and align them with the organization’s mission. Open communication is key.

Could you share a common resilience practice that you/your team follow regularly?

What is your most useful tip to inspire patients or colleagues?

I tell my patients that life is private, and challenges are part of us, but no sickness should define us. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. I also remind them that death is constant, so we shouldn’t waste energy worrying about it. For colleagues, I emphasize open communication, recognition, and appreciation. I advise them not to mix personal issues with institutional matters, and as leaders, we must understand these aspects to support our teams better.

How did you become involved with The Resilience Collaborative (TRC)?

As a member of the National Midwives Association of Uganda, I saw the application link to be a part of the myTRC Leadership Program shared in our WhatsApp group. I applied and was accepted. The myTRC coach later told me that my application stood out, which is how I joined TRC.

What are your aspirations as a member of TRC’s Community of Practice?

I aspire to be an icon of resilience by being an active member of this community. I hope TRC becomes a must‑have in every country, with organizations established to design resilience approaches for health workers. I want to contribute to wellbeing globally, especially in vulnerable African countries. My dream is to lead resilience collaborations in Uganda.

Do you have any tips or advice for new TRC members?

My advice is that once the journey has just begun—no retreat, no surrender. We must move forward by ensuring systems and policies recognize health workers’ wellbeing. At TRC, we must continue to engage ourselves as lead champions to make a difference.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the community?

Healthcare systems demand a lot from nurses and midwives, but provide too little in return. In my organization, nurse and midwife employment was only at 20%, leaving us vulnerable to emotional strain and compromised patient care. Systems and policies must work hand in hand to achieve the best results for both health workers and patients.

You can find Gladys on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-gladys-alekat-5a333b345/

We are thankful to Gladys for sharing her journey with us! If you have questions for her or would like to connect with her, please send us a message, and we will be happy to connect you! Also, if you’d like to be featured on this spotlight series or you’d like to nominate someone, please write to us: TRC.Community@georgeinstitute.org