About Wellsense
Who we are
Wellsense Upstream works with individuals, schools and corporations using Functional Medicine to achieve optimal wellness, and Wellsense Public Health works with organisations, donors and governments to address the root causes of dis-ease on a changing planet.
“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” — Albert Einstein
The ethos of what Wellsense does
Healed People & Planet
Lasting change - guided by science, root healing, ecological humility and the recognition of interconnectedness.
I am because You are
We are only well when the earth is well - as humans we cannot separate our future from the future of the planet. Our survival hinges on protecting nature so that in turn nature can protect us.
Web of Life
The health of our families and our communities depends on the health of our planet. In a healthy, interconnected system, where we take ‘just enough’, humans and nature thrive together.
Wellsense was established in 2009 with a mission to support frontline health workers to deliver quality care - we continue to do that and much more…
For many years Wellsense has focused on training front-line health workers working in some of the most under-resourced settings in sub-Saharan Africa in order to improve access to and quality of care. We also developed high-quality training materials (bespoke films, jobaids, manuals) to enhance and sustain performance. The work has spanned the range of public health issues - tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and malnutrition, sexual reproductive health and rights, as well as addressing the health systems and expenditures needed for service delivery. In addition we have worked with organisations to design and implement research to measure the impact of these interventions.
Over time, it became clear that the siloed, "band-aid" approach often used in public health wasn’t enough. The health challenges frontline health workers were tackling were interconnected with broader systemic issues. The growing impact of climate change, ecological degradation, and the environmental cost of public health efforts made us rethink our approach. Capacity building as usual was no longer an option.
For the past four years, we’ve reframed Wellsense’s focus, incorporating root-cause approaches to individual, planetary and population health.
As a clinician with a background in preventative medicine, a family nurse practitioner, and a specialist in international health, I have witnessed people getting sicker and sicker, as the environment becomes more polluted and degraded. As I explored the intricate relationship between our internal and external ecosystems, I realized that we could not longer continue to address human health in isolation. That is how Wellsense evolved into its current focus - providing root cause healing for individuals and populations living on our one unique life sustaining planet.
The company now offers two interconnected branches of care: individualized, one-to-one functional medicine services, and population and planetary health consulting. These branches or pathways are rooted in one ethos: the understanding that our personal well-being and the health of the ecosystems we depend upon are deeply intertwined. True healing, whether on an individual or global scale, relies on regeneration, balance, and fostering a renewed, respectful relationship with the natural world, inside and outside of our bodies.
Work with us
What we offer
Wellsense works with individuals and organisations who are ready to explore the interconnectedness of health, people, and the planet.
Collaborative, unique solutions, that bring effective, impactful change.
Using a One Health approach, I work with organisations to reframe health programming in light of ecological reality. I help you design or adapt health interventions that honour complexity, integrate indigenous and ecological wisdom, and deliver lasting results for people and planet. This is about reconnecting health to its wider ecosystem—because public health is now planetary health.
Corporate Nutrition: Improve employee performance, energy, and overall health through better nutrition.
Education & Thought Leadership:
The paradigm shift begins with your team embodying planetary consciousness.
Signature Programme Development: Let’s build a flagship programme that leads in this space
Leadership Empowerment:
For NGOs, public health teams, and donors who want to deepen their understanding of planetary health.
Adapting Existing Programmes:
Provides tools and strategies for seamless adaptation.
Communication Strategies & Storytelling: We can bring your work to life so that others can learn from your work.
Bespoke Toolkits & Implementation Kits: Tailored to bridge science, systems thinking, and local knowledge.
School Nutrition: Helps schools create a brain-boosting diet, boosting student performance and overall well-being.
I've had the great opportunity to work closely with Monique over the last 15 years on numerous projects supporting malaria interventions across Africa. Among our many collaborations, one project has been particularly successful is the elaboration of training educational materials to support the introduction of a new product for severe malaria treatment following WHO updated guidelines.
-Maud Lugand - Associate Director in Social Research, Medicines for Malaria Venture.
Recent Projects
Critical Conversations Association
I founded Critical Conversations to spark grounded, community-led dialogue on planetary and public health across Kenya. I developed the concept, training tools, and facilitation materials, and mentored a team of creatives, SRHR, and PHE specialists to lead the work. Rooted in the belief that the right questions reveal solutions we already hold, the methodology draws on the healing power of physical and emotional connection with nature. This project reflects my strengths in concept development, systems thinking, and designing grassroots approaches to complex, context-specific planetary and human health challenges.
The Population Conversation
I designed and launched the Population Conversation Symposium in Kenya, to open up meaningful dialogue on the complex impacts of rapid population growth. Organised by WellSense and supported by Population Matters, the event brought together African-led voices—from researchers to artists—to explore the intersections of demography, health, and ecology. Presentations were interwoven with music and performance, creating a reflective, grounded experience under the stars. This initiative reflects my strengths in convening diverse stakeholders, designing interdisciplinary spaces for dialogue, and centring African leadership in addressing context-specific planetary health challenges. Watch the film
Behaviour Change Communication
For caregivers and health workers facing Malaria
I have developed multiple tailored learning tools for diverse audiences across Africa—including mothers with limited education and frontline health workers—covering rectal artesunate, injectable artesunate, and seasonal malaria chemoprevention for pregnant women. These field-tested toolkits are widely used continent-wide (SMC Toolkit, Rectal Artesunate Toolkit, Injectable Artesunate Toolkit). In addition, I produced a demonstration film for frontline health workers on a new artesunate preparation. Beyond routine training, the film highlights the burden of severe malaria, especially in under-resourced settings, while showcasing the dedication and empathy of nurses in real-world conditions. Watch the film here. Watch previous films
Strengthening the Severe Malaria Continuum of Care in Malawi
Commissioned by Medicines for Malaria Venture, I led a two-district study in Malawi to assess the impact of bespoke behaviour change materials on the treatment pathway for children with severe malaria accessing rectal artesnate from community health workers. In a setting where such research is typically conducted by large institutions, I delivered a high-quality, resource-conscious study—from concept through to implementation, analysis, and peer-reviewed publication. The work resulted in the 5CC framework for improving the continuum of care and was accompanied by an engaging film that captures both the findings and lived realities on the ground. This project reflects Wellsense’s capacity to design and deliver impactful, field-based studies with meaningful health systems insight. Watch the film. Read the Publication
Adapting the Care Group Model for Adolescent Girls in East Africa
Commissioned by TB Alliance and AVAC, I led the development of a toolkit to measure community engagement in TB and HIV research across East and Southern Africa. Working with partners, community liaison officers, a programmer, and a statistician, I designed a user-friendly system capturing the vital yet often overlooked role of community engagement in clinical trials. Drawing on my skills in intervention research, cross-sector collaboration, and project management, I led this small multidisciplinary team to deliver a cost-effective solution that enhanced understanding of engagement’s impact on clinical outcomes. The Toolkit
Innovation in Stakeholder Engagement;Developing a Monitoring and Evaluation Toolkit
Commissioned by Aga Khan Canada, I provided technical assistance as a public health specialist to adapt the Care Group model for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in East Africa. Using a participatory approach, I co-developed tools, implementation guidelines, and Swahili-language training materials tailored to the needs of girls. This work included capacity-building for the impact team in responsive, context-specific messaging. It drew on my skills in programme adaptation, cross-cultural communication, resource design, and participatory training methods.
Why you can trust Wellsense
With over 25 years experience working in public health across Sub-Saharan Africa, I have supported organisations and communities through research, training, and programme design. My qualifications and background in nursing, functional medicine, and international health provide a unique blend of experience to guide individuals and organisations through complex health challenges
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions?
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I work with NGOs, donors, public health teams, and social impact organisations—especially those who sense that “business as usual” isn’t working anymore. If you're ready to engage with complexity, think systemically, and explore regenerative, locally rooted approaches to health, you're in the right place.
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Everything from national health strategy reviews and programme adaptation to grassroots communication campaigns, toolkits, and team training. Whether you’re launching something new or rethinking existing work, my goal is to support you to embed planetary and population health principles into your programme and ideally your organisation.lectus arcu. Vel quam elementum pulvinar etiam non quam lacus.
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Not at all. Curiosity is more important than credentials. Whether your team is just beginning to connect the dots between planet and health or already fluent in systems thinking, we meet where you are. This is about evolving together, not arriving fully formed.
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Start with a free discovery call. It’s a chance for us to connect, talk through your work, and see if there’s alignment. From there, I’ll send a short questionnaire to help clarify your goals, challenges, and needs. Based on that, I’ll propose a roadmap for moving forward—tailored to your context, pace, and priorities.
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While I’m based in Kenya and deeply rooted in the region, my work spans Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. I work with both local and international organisations—often remotely, and sometimes in person, depending on the scope and nature of the collaboration.
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Both. You could bring me in for a targeted piece—like a strategy review or a communication toolkit. Others engage in long-term co-creation and implementation. What matters is that the work is meaningful, not rushed, and responsive to real needs.
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Yes. I design and deliver immersive, interactive education grounded in One Health, systems thinking, ecological awareness, and regenerative public health. These sessions are practical, provocative, and tailored to your team—no stuffy PowerPoint overload here.
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Because every project is unique, pricing is based on scope, duration, and deliverables. After the discovery call and questionnaire, I’ll send through a proposed package and costed plan so you can review and decide from there. I always take into account an organisations’ status and will consider discounts for smaller groups.
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Absolutely. You don’t have to scrap everything to move in a new direction. I work with teams to assess what’s working, what’s not, and how to gently (or boldly) adapt your programme to reflect a more integrated, planetary lens—without losing momentum or connection to communities.
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Not unless you want to.
But I might ask: what do we actually mean by it? I’m more interested in true sustainability—the kind that’s regenerative, equitable, and long-view. So no jargon police here, just a friendly invitation to dig deeper. Let’s move from buzzwords to rooted, relational, real-world action.