The World Health Organization (WHO) and sister organizations consistently lookout for how students can contribute to international health. Since the world has become a global village, health-related events in one part of the world will have a ripple effect on the other. How then can international students contribute to global health? Let’s find out.
Professor J. P. Koplan MD, exposes global health as “a transnational area of study, research and practice, that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide.” Having built competence and capacity to face and handle tasks, health graduates have a major role to play global health.
So, let’s consider how international students can effectively contribute to global health, shall we?
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Volunteering
International students can get involved in health campaigns. They can also join activist movements to contribute to evidence-based planning. This improves communication and implementation of innovative initiatives and strategies to improve health and control diseases. Also, getting involved in humanitarian projects and gathering evidence strengthens your practical experiences. This way you build capacity and partnerships.
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Evaluate and address Health-Related Policies
As a student, becoming a health advocate gives you the opportunity to address health-related issues. For instance, you grow the capacity to address how scientific research and existing data is utilized in promoting and sustaining global health. Also, you address dimensional practices and policy issues relating to global health. This will help you expand your knowledge about specific global health issues.
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Build your Portfolio
Don’t relent in building a portfolio for your career in global health as an international student. Without a doubt, global health professionals are largely sought after in the labour market. For this reason, you are to take online courses, volunteer, and intern in health establishments. This builds you up with the required skill, knowledge and experience. As a result, you contribute your quota to the growth and sustainability of global health.
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Grow your Influence
Global health entails a global approach to health-related issues. As such, you need a network of global-minded people. This will make you have access to human and material resources needed to follow through on this global mandate. With a strong influence, you will be able to change negative policies and initiate positive ones. This is a very good way to grow your influence as you contribute to global health.
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Be Proactive
This entails you being passionate, knowledgeable and properly informed about global health issues. To this end, you can put pressure on governments to influence change. You can also put pressure on yourself with respect to your career. Without a doubt, the academic community is armed with dynamic global health researchers and activists. You will do the world good if you leverage on the advantage they give.
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