Overcoming autoimmune disease-Rosa’s climb to success in energy consultancy

What started as a mild cough seven years ago began Rosa Monique Emefa Djangba’s life-long battle with systemic scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease.
The first two weeks of the ‘cough’, which was initially treated and dismissed, soon returned, more intense and persistent. 

When other symptoms, including  fever, skin spotting and fatigue surfaced, it led to several misdiagnoses and treatments, ranging from vitiligo, chronic bronchitis, streptococcus pneumonia to tuberculosis—the treatment of TB, she noted, nearly led to her death.

“It took two years of suffering and uncertainty before the correct diagnosis was made in 2019 when I was in Germany for a conference,” Rosa said in an interview with The Mirror in Accra last Tuesday.

She explained that the last misdiagnosis was in Ghana where she was told she had local scleroderma, a less severe form of scleroderma.

"But the final came when I was in Germany and I developed severe pneumonia. Tests at the German hospital revealed I rather had the incurable systemic scleroderma,” she explained.

She added that this autoimmune condition meant her body's immune system mistakenly attacked healthy tissues, organs and cells.

Miss Djangba noted that from the age of 21 when it started, to her current age of 35, she had endured constant coughs that leaves her choosing between breathing and speaking, dramatic physical changes, hair loss, weakness and daily struggles. 

Despite the odds, she is on course to carving her name in Ghana’s energy sector. Starting off with a first degree in Agricultural Engineering at the  Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), graduating in 2012 and completing her national service at the Abeeku Brew-Hammond Energy Centre.

Although health complications delayed her graduation, Rosa said  she eventually completed her master’s degree programme in Renewable Energy under Mechanical Engineering at the KNUST. 

“I am passionate about sustainable energy hence me working between the years of 2016 and 2020 at the Kumasi Institute of Technology, Energy and Environment (KITE)”, Miss Djangba said. 

With a scholarship from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), she is a final year PhD student in  Sustainable Energy Technologies, focusing on wind energy for irrigation. 

She has also gained international exposure; participating in the Future Energy Leaders-100 programme by the World Energy Council. Through this initiative, she co-founded the Ghana chapter, which has since branched into consulting. 

Born in Accra to Mr Patrick Djangba and Mrs Bernadette Djangba and spending her formative years in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, Miss Djangba has also collaborated with organisations like the Netherlands Development Organisation and the Institute of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Solutions. 

The Aburi Girls’ Senior High School class of 2007 graduate  also possesses a diploma from the Technical University of Dresden, Germany and currently serves as the International Relations Chair for Future Energy Leaders Ghana. 

Rosa 

recounted how she  narrowly missed out on the Rising Star award at the Ghana Energy Awards but  continued to strive for excellence, participating in programmes like Open Africa Power. By telling her story, she hopes to inspire others to aim for greatness disregarding any hurdles.

Balancing health challenges with education and work
Discussing how she had balanced her health challenges with education and work, she emphasised the support of others.
She  explained that she had to rely on friends, siblings, parents and classmates.

"I can’t go out as often as I would like, even for lectures or simple errands, because dust, perfume, viruses, bacteria and other external factors can easily affect me," she said.

Miss Djangba added that she also had to stop attending in-person lectures in 2021 and now did everything online.

"I’m always confined indoors, so my classmates are the ones who come to me for group work or projects,” she said.

According to her, her condition surfaced in her final year at KNUST and now she took anti-inflammatory medications, including corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and vasodilators, to manage symptoms such as pain, heartburn and high blood pressure.

“This also means I have to be extra cautious about hygiene, the food I eat, the places I visit, and the things I touch,” she added.

Impact of the condition
Reflecting on how her condition had impacted her life, Miss Djangba noted that walking up a flight of stairs now felt like "climbing Mount Everest." 

She also noted common symptoms of her condition, including shrinking lips, crooked teeth that required braces, and issues like skin itchiness, toughening, and facial bloating.

"From being a jolly, plump girl to becoming slim and looking different, my teeth stuck out in a funny way. It was my dad, his friend, and I who pooled money  to pay for braces, giving me the beautiful smile I have now”, she said.

Miss Djangba explained that her condition had also made it difficult to engage in activities she once loved, which included dancing with her church’s "Dancing Stars" ministry and participating in community outreach events .

A voice for advocacy
Inspired by her own journey, Miss Djangba noted that she began planning her advocacy campaign, dubbed; My Autoimmune Awareness Campaign (MAACampaign), in 2019 and officially launched it in October 2023.

She explained that the goal of the campaign was to educate the public about autoimmune diseases, which were often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. 

Her efforts include counselling individuals, helping them find the right doctors, and raising awareness through online platforms. 

She added that she hoped to expand the initiative into “Scleroderma Africa,” a network connecting people across the continent who faced similar health challenges.

"People die because they don't know what to do. These conditions have no cure, but when properly managed, one can still live a full life," Miss Djangba said.

Dreams and aspirations
Despite the challenges she faces, Miss Djangba remains focused on her dreams and aspirations of becoming a credible and trustworthy energy consultant.

“In a field dominated by men, I want to stand out with the right credentials and my advocacy work aligns with my professional goals, helping me make a meaningful impact both in my career and in the lives of others,” she said.

Writer’s email: appreygloria@gmail.com