UC scholars selected for UN course
Chris Davis
30 July 2014: Two º£½ÇÉäÇø students were chosen to travel to Malaysia recently for the United Nations University's first short-course focused on the impacts of urbanisation to human health.
Bachelor of Public Health AusAID scholars Segela Gagole and Ruth Injo, originally from Papua New Guinea, were invited to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the short course titled Urbanization and Health: Systems Approaches.
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Public health students Segela Gagole and Ruth Injo with adjunct professor Tony Capon in Kuala Lumpur. Photo supplied |
The course is the first offered by the United Nations University's International Institute for Global Health, in partnership with the Malaysian government's technical support program.
Mr Gagole said the short course addressed public health issues in urban towns and cities in developing countries.
"The course covered issues surrounding communicable diseases in an urban context including mental health, human rights approaches to safe drinking water, affordable housing, and good health based on governance and urban health," Mr Gagole said.
"It was very interesting to learn that a discrete mining town of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia was extended to a mega urban region over the years. The studies reveal that public health was a major concern as the city extended."
During the week-long course, Mr Gagole and Ms Injo visited the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and were involved in a field excursion to experience some of the changes in nearby Putrajaya city.
Mr Gagole said the course has given him an insight that he'll apply to his home country of Papua New Guinea.
"As Papua New Guinea continues to experience the benefits of urbanisation in today's changing world, it leaves many challenges and brings new emerging lifestyle diseases," Mr Gagole said.
"Addressing these emerging issues does not only require one single solution, but requires collaborative efforts from the policy makers, urban planners, advocates, service providers and government to have a more cohesive and integrative approach using systems thinking."
The University students were mentored on the trip by adjunct professor Tony Capon who now serves as the director of the International Institute for Global Health.
Mr Gagole said he was grateful for Professor Capon's advice, and for the º£½ÇÉäÇø giving him the chance to further his education in public health and gain an international perspective to his degree.
"A special thank you to the º£½ÇÉäÇø's international programs that aid students with an international experience added onto their degrees," Mr Gagole said."Studying internationally is a good opportunity worth considering by other students at the º£½ÇÉäÇø."