After 10 years as a political consultant, immersed in national political campaigns, public relations and electoral battles, Andreea Popescu joined the WHO Country Office in Romania in the midst of a national measles epidemic. In this interview she talks about WHO celebrating its 75th anniversary, her own WHO learning curve, changing mindsets, and her passion for books and imaginary cities.
What brought you to WHO?
Because of the measles epidemic in 2017, the Ministry of Health needed support, and I joined WHO to work closely with the Ministry as a communications consultant, building trust in immunization. Since then, I’ve worked at the WHO Country Office in various areas, covering primary health care, tuberculosis (TB) care and communicable diseases such as HIV and COVID-19. Today I’m a National Professional Officer and “happily married” to the organization.
From political campaigns to campaigning for health.
Yes, one could say that! But coming to WHO meant a change in mindset. I knew bureaucracy, administrations, local and central government, and processes. I needed to learn more about the health sector and understand, from a very theoretical perspective, where health fits in the picture. I really learned how to learn, so to speak, from the wealth of experience of my WHO colleagues. It was a real effort, but a great experience – I felt that I was being invested in and given the chance to make a difference.
Give us an example of when your work made a difference.
Well, for instance, the national project we started for TB care. It meant switching from a hospital to ambulatory model of care, which means that the treatment becomes much more people-centred. We managed this systematic shift in TB care despite the COVID-19 pandemic, despite limited resources, and in the context of a rather volatile political environment. We also rarely work on one single project, typically handling multiple projects, juggling many things, and being on constant alert. Much of our work is long-term, and there aren’t necessarily that many quick wins.
On 7 April, World Health Day, WHO turns 75 – it’s a good time to reflect on those wins.
Of course! We’ve come such a long way, thanks to cooperation – both national and international – and science. Take antibiotics, for instance. Before their discovery, any small wound could be a death sentence. Or, from a female perspective, the birth control pill, giving women power over their own bodies, and allowing parents to plan for sufficient time between pregnancies. Ultimately, these wins are about science and teamwork, and as I said, it’s often long-term work. It is also so rewarding to remember and celebrate our collective achievements, after 3 hard years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
What do you do when you’re not working?
I’d probably be classified as an extrovert. I like to meet people and be around people, but I prefer small parties to large crowds. I’m part of a book club with some 15–20 people meeting regularly. I also love travelling. My friends describe me as petulant [childishly sulky or bad-tempered] and ataraxic [soothing, tranquilizing].
I had to look that up. Speaking of travel, what’s your favourite city?
Buenos Aires, probably. Since I was a teenager, I have dreamt of being a diplomat in Buenos Aires. I want to die in Buenos Aires. I don’t know why – I’m probably under the influence of various books, and I’ve always been attracted to Latin America.
Let’s talk books. What’s the latest one that captivated you?
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. The space is fantastic, intriguing and mysterious, and the way she depicts all the architecture is just poetic. It’s filled with symbolic archetypes, and although it’s an easy read, you need to pay attention to underlying meanings. I love oblique reads, with many layers of meaning tucked into the plot.
Last question: if you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Well, I like everything that’s fast. I like to work fast. I like to synthesize. I think teleportation would be my thing – getting work done really fast and travelling at incredible speeds to amazing locations.
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WHO Country Office in Romania
- Number of staff: 41. We have 10 fixed-term or temporary staff, as well as long-term consultants and UN Volunteers around.
- It has operated since January 1991.
- The WHO Country Office in Romania mobilizes and shares technical expertise on a wide variety of topics promoting the health and well-being for all, providing support to the Ministry of Health and the Romanian Government in contextualizing health policies, improving the health of the population and responding to health emergencies.
- Following the onset of the war in Ukraine, the Country Office has also been supporting the Romanian Government to provide essential health-care services for refugees who have settled in, or are in transit to, the country.
- In March 2023 the Country Office supported a High-level Regional Meeting on Health and Care Workforce, hosted by WHO/Europe, to galvanize government actions throughout the Region to support and protect all health and care workers. As a result, the Bucharest Declaration on health and care workforce was adopted, urging political action and commitment to strengthen the health workforce, and outlining concrete steps to do so across several policy areas.