Leftenan Colonel Dr Ajantha Segarmurthy has bagged Outstanding Women Leadership Award

Leftenan Colonel Dr Ajantha Segarmurthy has bagged Outstanding Women Leadership Award

• January 04, 2023

Greetings! Thank you for this honour. As a doctor by profession, I have more than fifteen years of experience working in the Malaysian Ministry of Health. My journey and exposure throughout these years has ignited in me the passion to serve in line that optimises service delivery in our healthcare system.

I believe in that a holistic approach is needed to ensure a seamless and sustainable health service delivery system. Good policies are the first step to bring about the changes in the sector.

The vision to achieve a wellbeing driven community has been the key factor to pursue in my current line of work. Working in the Planning Division at the Ministry of Health (MOH) gave me great exposure in fields relating to the management of resources and facilities to achieve an optimum standard of physical, mental and social health for the Malaysian population.

I am a people and productivity-oriented person who believes that everyone has an important role to play in bringing about the best in any organisation. I believe and practice good leadership to bring about the change that I have envisioned to achieve. I also believe that I am a highly motivated and committed individual who is ready to embark on new tasks and challenges.

My journey started in the medical field and after 8 years, I chose to embark into the administration side of the ministry of health and so joined the Policy and Planning department of MOH. It was an honour to have been a part of the Malaysian Health System Research, working closely with Harvard University from year 2016-2018. I pursued my Master as degree in Business Administration as a second degree. I was also a speaker for Covid-19 related topics on multiple platforms organised by MOH and other Non-Governmental Organisations.

I have had the privilege to contribute in several publications such as the Malaysian Health Systems Research Volume 1, Malaysia Health Accounts 1997-2018, Supply and Needs-Based Requirement Projections of Malaysian Human Resources for Health Using System Dynamics Approach 2016-2030 and Human Resources for Health Country Profile 2015-2018 Malaysia.

Currently, I’m the Deputy Director of Operation Coordination Section, National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) in the Prime Minister’s Department. I have represented the National Disaster team of Malaysia locally and internationally. Being the only representative from the Ministry of Health in NADMA, I also work closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and ASEAN countries.

Being a mother of two, I try my best to manage my family and work. I’m not only a professional who has been serving the country for past 15 years, but am also very much involved in many charity drives and social works especially for single mothers, homeless people and orphanages and old folks homes. Other than providing them with their basic needs, we also give them free medical care.

I have also given many health awareness and motivational talks on multiple platforms. Many have benefitted from the mass free medical campaigns that I have organised. Recently, I was identified and honoured with the title of Leftenan Kolonel from the Malaysian Civil Defence.

Other than the above, I’m also serve as a spiritual teacher in a spiritual organisational where I teach children human values, Vedic lessons and songs. I was also blessed to have been a chief judge for children’s competitions as well.

I am truly very passionate about women empowerment and their mental wellbeing. Hence, have been involved in several motivational and mental health talks. I take pride in any achievements made by any women regardless of it being big or small.

Lastly, I am indeed very honoured and privileged to be chosen by Women Icon to receive this recognition.  This is a great initiative to promote a women's sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the other recipients of this prestigious award. Thank you, Women Icon powered by Times Women for this recognition. I am humbled.