Wigdan is AkiDwA’s Migrant Women’s Health Officer, with a multidisciplinary background in agricultural science, environmental health, and public health. She holds a Bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Agricultural Science from the University of Khartoum, an MSc in Agricultural Science from University College Dublin, and an MSc in Public Health from the School of Medicine, University of Limerick.
She has extensive experience working with Irish Aid in Sudan on interdisciplinary development programmes aimed at improving the health and well-being of disadvantaged communities. Her work has focused on empowering rural women to identify and respond to their health and environmental needs. A key part of her work involved raising awareness about Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and its health consequences, particularly in high-prevalence regions. She also led community education initiatives on environmental health and energy alternatives to reduce ecological degradation and improve overall living conditions.
In her role at AkiDwA, she is committed to improving the health outcomes of migrant women by addressing the social determinants of health, highlighting systemic barriers, and promoting cultural competency in service provision. Through advocacy, training, and collaboration with local and national stakeholders, she aims to drive sustainable and equitable health improvements within migrant communities.
She brings a strong set of professional skills, including team leadership, research, communication, organisational development, and community engagement. Her work is grounded in a belief that equity, providing tailored support based on individual needs, is essential to ensuring migrant women achieve just and fair outcomes.
Fun fact: On her first international journey, she nearly boarded a flight without her passport or cheque in hand, saved just in time by an attentive airport security officer who reminded her to “be careful.” She’s carried that lesson and that care into her work ever since.
