10 Dr Aalisha Sahukhan
With the help of Dr Aalisha’s family, friends and husband, here are some things you may not know about her
She became a familiar sight presenting news media updates on Fiji’s fight against Measles and COVID-19 with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and her colleagues from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
She is none other than the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ Head of Health Protection, Dr Aalisha Sahukhan.
Her husband, nephrologist, Dr Amrish Krishnan, described Dr Aalisha’s insight and knowledge of disease outbreak management as phenomenal.
“I say this not only as her husband, but as a physician. She is not afraid to stand her ground, with the backing of literature and evidence-based recommendations, in the best interest of Fijians,” he said.
“The biggest sacrifice I see her making is the time her work takes her away from family.
“She is a family-oriented person, and she loves being home and with our kids.
“She also loves visiting her mum. She misses all these dearly.” Dr Krishnan described her as intelligent, articulate and full of compassion.
She is the eldest daughter of private dental surgeon and practitioner Dr Imtiaz Sahukhan. Her mother is Ashla Singh.
She was born and raised in Suva.
She is the eldest of four siblings.
Dr Aalisha received her formal education at International School, Suva.
Outside her professional career, Dr Aalisha loves to spend time with her two sons (two-yearold Ari Sahukhan Krishnan and seven-month-old Aslan Sahukhan Krishnan.
Dr Aalisha has two major fans who cheer her on behind the scenes. According to her husband, it’s him and his motherin-law. She enjoys a variety of food. But her mum’s chicken curry is the best.
Her biggest morale booster is to be updated with her son’s progress at home, this gives her the energy to press on with work.
Less than a year ago, on June 5, 2020, Dr Aalisha married her sweetheart, Dr Amrish Krishnan.
Dr Aalisha’s medical profession began in 2011 when she became a medical intern following the completion of her studies from the Fiji School of Medicine
(now Fiji National University). After four years in the medical profession in Fiji, Dr Aalisha was Fiji’s Fulbright Scholarship recipient.
This enabled her to study at the Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, Georgia (for three years).
Upon returning in 2017, Dr Aalisha took up the post of Acting National Advisor Communicable Diseases. In 2018 she was Acting Head of Health Protection until her new position this year.