As a nurse and midwife, I have been involved in the clinical care of women with social and economic difficulties, as well as in humanitarian assistance in disaster areas for NGOs. Through those experiences, I noticed refugee and migrant women and children were particularly vulnerable under those settings, so I wanted to learn how to build a system that facilitates access to health, which is a key role for the empowerment of them.
This fantastic MPH program is designed in a structured manner to help students learn different methodologies and develop perspectives to address global health concerns. The faculty staffs are experienced researchers as well. In the second year, students can integrate the knowledge gained in the first year and practices through a long-term overseas practicum including an internship and research activities. In my case, I did a five-month internship at The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in Jordan, where I also conducted my research on postpartum depression among Palestine refugee mothers. That experience really helped me understand the health care policy-making processes as well as operations in the field. Through data collection for my study, I acquired critical skills that drove the project forward, and to think logically and critically about the data.
Looking back to my days with TMGH, I was given the gift of broadening my capacity to consider the provision of health services from multiple perspectives there. Above all, working hard with my great classmates and dedicated faculty coming from various nationalities and specialties equipped me with courage, enthusiasm, and humor, which are essential qualities required for working with a diverse group of people. I am sure that learning at TMGH will be an eye-opening experience and offer you deep insights into global health.
I’m interested in learning medicine globally and so I tried to join this MTM course and had a chance to learn here in Nagasaki.
As an MTM graduate, I’d like to introduce you about this course. The course consists of 4 terms. During the first two terms, we, MTM students, learn with students belonging to MSH and MSc. All lectures, not only Statistics and Epidemiology, but also Tropical medicines were motivating. I could learn the way of thinking from international students (mostly from Asia and Africa), have discussion, work hard and encourage each other, and also take a rest with chatting among not only medical doctors but also nurses, pharmacists and so on. This was a wonderful opportunity to broaden my outlook and give me a new view of the world. Additionally, I could have a valuable relationship with a lot of students from all over the world beyond just one of a Japanese pediatrician.
During the third term, lectures are more detailed and enlarged our knowledge. Only with MTM students, lots of lectures are based on clinical medicine; there are case presentations from collaborated facilities in Viet Nam and Philippines and lectures presented by LSHTM. Those were really interesting and impressive. Just from my personal pediatric point of view, lectures related to pediatrics were not so many but they were really valuable because I could have a chance to see real measles which I could have not done just in Japan and to know the severe dehydration and malnutrition. These inspired me to see children globally.
During winter and summer terms, we worked on our research and finished writing master’s thesis. It was hard to manage just in one year but somehow I completed all my assignments, thanks to my supervisor and assistant professors. It was a nice experience to complete.
In the summer term, we happily had an opportunity to visit and stay in the Philippines for two weeks and learn tropical medicine by lectures and bedside teaching in an actual tropical area. We were very lucky to join this course in 2018 to 2019 and hope this fieldtrip continues.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to you all; professors, supervisors, students, and staff in TMGH. Thank you for all of your support. I could have a very meaningful and fruitful time with you.
I am Yannick Munyeku, a Medical Doctor working for the DR Congo Ministry of Health. I went to Japan through JICA ABE Initiative as part of the human resources capacity building program. As a TMGH student, I had a rich and diverse experience. Courses were designed and taught to provide to students relevant knowledge to efficiently and comprehensively deal with global health issues across the globe and in developing countries specifically. As a MTM student, I have been able to strengthen and acquire competitive skills in biomedical research, epidemiology and clinical management of Infectious diseases while networking with colleagues, researchers, clinicians and academia from all over the world. I strongly recommend TMGH to health professionals who would like to endlessly work for a safer world where nobody is left behind.