Episode 001 with Safinat Emengo

Founder of Mablevi Lupus Foundation and official partner for Summit for Lupus

In this powerful opening episode of The People’s HealthCast, I sit down with Safinat Emengo, advocate, founder, and voice for those living with Lupus. Safinat is the Founder of the Mablevi Lupus Foundation, a patient-led organisation dedicated to raising awareness, providing support, and amplifying the lived experiences of people affected by Lupus.

Diagnosed with Lupus herself, Safinat turned personal adversity into purposeful advocacy. Through community-building, storytelling, and education, she has created safe spaces for people navigating autoimmune conditions — particularly within underrepresented communities.

In this episode, Safinat shares the realities of living with Lupus beyond the clinical definition, the invisible symptoms, delayed diagnoses, emotional toll, and the power of finding community. She also introduces the vision behind a developing project, led by Mr Tobi Yusuff the Summit for Lupus, a growing campaign bringing together patients, clinicians, researchers, and advocates to drive awareness and systemic change.

This conversation is honest, reflective, and deeply human. It reminds us that health systems perform best when lived experience is at the foundation.

What I Discuss with Safinat

* Safinat’s journey from Lupus diagnosis to founding the Mablevi Lupus Foundation.

* The hidden realities of living with an invisible autoimmune condition.

* Why awareness must go beyond campaigns and translate into action

* The importance of community, storytelling, and safe spaces for people with chronic illness.

* The vision behind Summit for Lupus and how collaborative spaces can drive research, policy influence, and patient empowerment.

* What health professionals need to understand about listening differently to those with lived experience.

If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, share, and leave a review. Conversations like this help shift narratives and influence practice.

Connect with Me

LinkedIn – Bimpe Kuti-Matekenya
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bimpe-kuti/

Website – www.carepathway.care

Connect with Safinat

🌐 Mablevi Lupus Foundation
Website: https://mablevilupusfoundation.com/
Instagram: @mablevilupusfoundation

🌐 Summit for Lupus
Website: https://summitforlupus.org/
Instagram: @summitforlupus

LinkedIn – Safinat Emengo https://www.linkedin.com/in/safinat-emengo-2a3820176/

Care systems designed for people without people will always underperform.


This podcast exists to ensure lived experience is heard, valued, and embedded.

Until next time. Let’s keep listening and Empowering Excellence in Public Health and Social Care.