Aadilah Maker Diderrick dedicated her life to public health and human rights advocacy

Aadilah Maker Diderrick demonstrates resilience and an active stance in the field of human rights protection, transforming her life experience into work aimed at strengthening community health and supporting informed decision-making. Her journey began with hardships experienced in District Six, leading her to spearhead the fight against alcohol harm in South Africa.

When Diderrick discusses what shaped her professional path, she starts not with education or career, but with childhood, when inequality was not an abstract concept but a daily reality for her family. Born in District Six, her family was forcibly relocated to Mitchells Plain, where she witnessed how inequality affected people's lives. These experiences ultimately steered her toward a career in public health and human rights activism.

Currently, 58-year-old Diderrick serves as the Secretary General of the South African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA). She works in countries such as Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, promoting evidence-based alcohol policies that reduce harm and protect vulnerable families.

Diderrick recalls how her life changed: 'I had a brother with a disability who lacked access to amenities. This was compounded by the fact that I grew up in Mitchells Plain, where the girls I went to school with started pregnant early,' she shared. Furthermore, meeting people living with HIV during university studies, when Sean Mellors, who lives with HIV and AIDS, spoke before their psychology class, solidified her resolve to address the social and environmental factors influencing people's health and choices.

Building a Career Based on Prevention

For over three decades, Diderrick has been involved in sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS, child and youth development, gender equality, and violence prevention. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of New South Wales in Australia.

One of her most significant achievements is assisting in the development of the multimedia program 'Soul Buddyz.' When children across South Africa participated in the pilot project, it led to the creation of Soul Buddyz clubs that continue to have an impact today. Diderrick notes: 'When we tested the pilot project, children across South Africa asked to join. We never planned to create a club, but this reaction led to the establishment of Soul Buddyz clubs nationwide.' She emphasizes that even now adults tell her about the significance of Soul Buddyz in their lives, reminding her of the potential children hold.

Despite her successes, Diderrick believes that becoming a leader first required learning to believe in her own voice. She admits that one of the main challenges for a Black female leader was developing self-confidence. Apartheid affected the self-esteem of many, and since English was her second language, she had to work hard to gain the confidence to speak in audiences full of academics and professionals.

More than three decades later, this belief continues to guide her work in public health. She asserts that 'change is a long-term project. The life of every person you touch creates a domino effect. When people tell me our work has changed their lives, it reminds me why this work is important.'

Combating Alcohol Harm Through Policy

These experiences now define the issue that occupies much of her time—reducing the harm associated with alcohol consumption in South Africa. As Secretary General of SAAPA, Diderrick advocates for stricter alcohol policies to address what she sees as one of the most preventable public health problems in the region.

She points out that in South Africa, alcohol is widely available in residential areas, and its accessibility is too often poorly regulated. Children are exposed to alcohol on their way to school, neighbors sell it from their homes, and many grow up seeing harmful consumption as the norm. Over time, this shapes their own choices.

Diderrick stresses that the consequences extend far beyond simple alcohol consumption. 'Alcohol diverts money from household needs, contributes to gender-based violence, and exposes children to abuse, creating long-term consequences for families.'

Her work is research-based. Diderrick is co-lead of a four-country study examining the link between alcohol availability and gender-based violence. She also co-authored an article published in 2025 concerning the alcohol industry's role in delaying the adoption of amendments to South Africa's liquor laws. She is convinced that scientific data, not commercial interests, should dictate alcohol policy.

'It is critical that South Africa adopts evidence-based alcohol policy because legislation and public health programs must be guided by science. The alcohol industry should not regulate its own advertising. Advertising for six-packs and 'two-for-one' deals promotes a culture of consumption that is unhealthy and fuels the culture of binge drinking that we particularly observe in South Africa. No advertising campaign informs women that every drink they consume increases their risk of breast cancer.'

Diderrick specifically noted that independent regulation would better protect consumers.

People First

One of the outcomes of her recent research left a deep impression after the interview concluded. 'I was truly struck when people talked about constant noise and lack of sleep due to the operation of bars in residential areas. When children and adults do not get enough sleep for a long time, it affects both their physical and mental well-being.'

She acknowledges that balancing a demanding career in human rights advocacy with family life has not always been easy. 'At night, I need to set a quitting time. Understanding your partner helps. I also make sure my children understand what the next two weeks will look like and what my work requires, and I still do this even though they are older.'

On the occasion of Women's Month in South Africa, Diderrick views it as an opportunity to acknowledge progress while reflecting on the work ahead. 'It is an opportunity to affirm myself and others, celebrate positive changes, and reflect.'

From a childhood shaped by forced removals and inequality to influencing public health policy across South Africa, Diderrick has built a career on the conviction that long-term change begins when people are equipped with the ability to make informed decisions about their own lives. She concludes: 'I want to help create spaces where people and communities can make informed decisions about their lives. Our role as professionals is to support communities so they can lead the change themselves.'