Dr. Haliyya Bakare is a Medical Doctor and has a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Birmingham.
As part of her medical education, which was completed in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Haliyya trained in the United States of America with clinical clerkship anchored by the South Texas Health System under US Board Certified Physicians in some core rotations namely Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, and Psychiatry. Notably, her clinical clerkship coincided with the challenging circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing her with firsthand experience in public health management during a crisis. In recognition of her excellent performance during the clinical clerkship, she received an honorary US Battalion Navy Medal for Leadership granted by the Psychiatry Preceptor, Dr. Ricardo Irizarry, a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy.
In Saint Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG), Haliyya had public health management exposure, being involved in planning, organizing, coordinating, and executing projects focused on improving healthcare access and outcomes for women and children. She served as Co-Programme Coordinator of The Consent Workshop (SVG chapter), a dynamic youth-led organization dedicated to deconstructing gender inequalities globally by creating safe spaces through consent education, bystander education, and resources.
This aligned with Haliyya's passion for women's health and her commitment to fighting gender inequality and stereotypes. Through The Consent Workshop, she championed efforts to recognize and address the complex issues affecting women and girls, challenging the status quo through policy advocacy, resource development, and workshops implemented in secondary schools, colleges, and universities. The SVG experience was typical of communities grappling with distinctive healthcare challenges that necessitate innovative solutions within resource-constrained settings.
Haliyya is an Associate Member and a member of the Global Violence Prevention Special Interest Group (SIG) of the UK Faculty of Public Health, demonstrating her commitment to professional excellence and ongoing learning in the field of public health. She also serves as a United Nations (UN) Women UK Delegate to the 68th session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), the biggest global policy-making body dedicated to promoting gender equality.