My passion for global health was sparked following my water-related trip to Accra, Ghana as a part of the Water Without Borders graduate diploma at the United Nations University, Institute of Water, Environment & Health. In Accra, we learned about Ghana’s progress towards Sustainable Goal 6 (Water & sanitation) through various experiential learning activities. This experience led me to pursue my graduate thesis project in global health (access to water and health in a Kenyan community) as a Master of Public Health (MPH) candidate at McMaster University. I wanted to attend the Canadian Conference on Global Health (CCGH), mainly to learn about the kind of research currently taking place in the field and to network with individuals with whom my research interests align. Needless to say, I left the conference more knowledgeable, inspired and motivated to pursue a career in global health.
My favourite session was the plenary keynote by Dr. Patricia Garcia from School of Public Health at Cayetano Heredia University, Peru on day 1 of the conference. Dr. Garcia spoke about the work she has done to improve women’s health in Peru. In particular, the project HOPE, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) screening to improve women’s life, was the example that stood out to me the most. To address the rising prevalence of HPV infections, which can later lead to cervical cancer, a feasibility study was conducted. The purpose was to determine whether a model of cervical cancer screening involving female community leaders will work in Ventanilla, Callao, Peru. This model promoted use of home-based novel HPV screening tests with self-sampling equipment and utilization of technology (SMS and phone calls) to communicate results to the test users. Due to my prior familiarity with community-based participatory research (CBPR), I was moved by this innovative approach taken to address increasing HPV cases in Peru.
Dr. Garcia’s presentation allowed me to reflect on other examples of CBPR that I am familiar with. During my research trip to Ghana, we learned about the community-led total sanitation (CLTS) approach, where a community is actively involved in the whole research process, starting from the planning phase to the evaluation phase. One of the desired outcomes of CLTS is a community’s ownership of interventions as well as the sustainability of a behavioural change. Speaking specifically about the example from Ghana, this practice allowed a rural community to combat increasing rates of water-borne diseases and change practices and behaviours related to water, sanitation and hygiene, such as open defecation.
If I was given an opportunity to engage with Dr. Garcia, I would have asked for elaboration on the process that goes into developing an innovative community-specific strategy to address a problem. I would have also been interested in knowing more about how the community feels about being able to contribute to these projects.
In conclusion, attending the CCGH 2018 allowed me to learn more about CBPR and the importance of involving communities in research. Furthermore, it provided me some reflection prompts to explore my career and research interests as I embark on my journey as a young professional in a few months.