Sunitha B J

Sunitha B J has extensive work experience in the field of public health and capacity building. Sunitha is currently working as the State Project Team Lead for COVID Mental Health at KHPT. In this role, they focus on providing empathic support and building resilience in individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to this, Sunitha worked as the Program Director at JeevaRaksha Trust, where they played a significant role in emergency care and life support initiatives. Sunitha collaborated closely with RGUHS, one of the largest medical universities, and various departments within the university to enhance medical advances and save lives.

Sunitha also served as the Deputy Director of Capacity Building and Counselling at Karnataka Health Promotion Trust. Their responsibilities included assessing gaps in capacities, designing and conducting training programs, developing user-friendly training modules, and providing technical support to government programs. Additionally, they contributed to the Multisectoral Nutrition Pilot Project, serving as the Deputy Team Lead. Through this project, Sunitha addressed issues of malnutrition in poverty-stricken and patriarchal communities.

Sunitha has also worked as a Project Lead for a United Nations Trust Fund and UN WOMEN funded program called UNTF. Sunitha's work in this role focused on reaching out to vulnerable women at risk of HIV infection and addressing gender inequality and violence. Sunitha implemented strategies such as community support, economic empowerment, and advocacy to create positive change.

Earlier in their career, Sunitha served as a Project Coordinator and Senior Counsellor at ASHA Foundation, where they contributed to various projects.

Overall, Sunitha B J's work experience demonstrates their commitment to public health, capacity building, and addressing social inequalities.

Sunitha B J began their education at Bangalore University from 1990 to 1994, during which the specific degree and field of study are unknown. Later, they attended Mysore University from 1998 to 2000, earning an MA and a PG Diploma in Counseling with a focus on Sociology. Recently, in 2019, Sunitha completed a program at Mariwala Health Initiative in Mumbai, acquiring certification as a Certified Queer Affirmative Counselor, specializing in Mental Health Counseling.