Multicultural studies in public health

24 September 2012

A journalist from Lisbon, a nurse from Malmö and a doctor from Nairobi are three of the newly admitted students on Lund University’s international Master’s programme in Public Health.

The semester started on 3 September, although the majority of the students arrived a few days before. The first thing on the timetable was introduction days at the Clinical Research Centre in Malmö, where the programme is taught.

This autumn, 53 students from 24 countries have started the programme, and this diversity is also reflected in the variety of backgrounds, experiences and interests.

Wangui Muthigani from Nairobi, Kenya, is a doctor with several years of experience:

“I have worked in a war situation at a refugee camp in Sudan. It was there that my passion for public health issues and international work began in earnest”, explains Wangui.

Travel gave new perspectives
Travelling and working in other countries also proved an eye-opener for Sérgio Esperanca from Lisbon, Portugal. Visiting Cape Verde and Mozambique gave him new perspectives and in his future career he hopes to combine his training in journalism and communication with global public health issues.

“The Nordic countries are global leaders in health care and have a good reputation when it comes to public health training. This was an important factor for me when I chose this programme”, says Sérgio.

International atmosphere
In the multicultural mix of students, there are also a few Swedes. Erika Sjöström is a nurse and worked at Skåne University Hospital before deciding to apply to the programme. Her experience also includes a project in Ghana teaching teenage girls about sexual health.

“The international atmosphere definitely adds something. There are many expectations, ideas and visions that come together thanks to the different backgrounds of the students”, says Erika Sjöström, who lives in Malmö.

Text and photo: Björn Martinsson

Link to programme web pages