The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) celebrated the graduation of its ninth Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MGHD) cohort on Sunday, August 4.
The 2024 class comprises 54 students from 16 countries worldwide, including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, the United States of America, and Zambia.
Their families, staff, friends, and guests convened at the Kigali Convention Centre to celebrate a year’s worth of hard work, accomplishments, and milestones.
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The graduated students are from four options: 8 in Health Management, 27 in Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health, 10 in One Health, and 9 in Global Surgery, all committed to advancing global health equity.
Dr Jim Kim, UGHE Chancellor, in his opening remarks, said that the goal of building the university was to create an institution that would impact health and education in Rwanda and transform medical and health education across Africa.
Addressing the graduates, Kim said: "Know that we have extremely high expectations of every single one of you. We expect that you will go out and transform healthcare in Africa and the world, especially for the poorest and most marginalised who deserve so much better.”
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Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Minister of Health, congratulated the graduates and commended the university for ranking among the top eight in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He said that in 2023, nearly 10 graduates from the cohort joined the Ministry of Health and are performing excellently.
"We have a lot to do together, starting with our 4x4 strategy that the entire UGHE family has been part of drafting, and now we are in implementation.”
He said that UGHE is a crucial partner in addressing the legacy of few providers for so many patients and numerous health challenges.
"Together, we can achieve not just our 4x4 goals, but also solve the problems we face, because we are committed.”
Prof. Vikram Patel, Paul Farmer Professor and Chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, in his speech, reminded graduates that health equity goes beyond treating diseases and individuals.
It involves addressing systemic disparities, advocating for the poor and vulnerable, and ensuring everyone receives the same quality of healthcare, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.
"Find your passion within this incredibly diverse field. The four options we heard about today are just a sampling of the diversity of things that you can be doing in global health delivery. And whether it’s in community health, whether it’s in policy reform.
"Let your purpose and your heart guide you. Remember that behind every single number, every single statistic, there is a person. There is a story waiting to be heard, waiting to be told. Empathy, a fundamental human quality of being able to feel the joy and pain of others is going to be your most powerful tool. Understand the lives of others, their struggles, fears, and hopes.”
Gatwiri Mutithi, a Global Surgery graduate, expressed that UGHE created opportunities for students to share experiences and learn from each other.
She said: "From UGHE we learned to think about systems and not just our interests, how to innovate with care, considering the whole patient journey as we come up with solutions, and finally how to engage the community, placing their needs and priorities at the core of our work.”
The MGHD is UGHE’s key flagship programme that focuses on turning healthcare experts into global health leaders through an interdisciplinary, biosocial approach.
Under the guidance of esteemed faculty members and renowned experts in the field, the graduates have gained valuable insights and practical experience through coursework, field placements, and real-world case studies.
They have engaged in collaborative projects with local communities, international organisations, and governmental bodies, demonstrating their commitment to making a tangible impact on global health outcomes.
Through the intensive research practicum, students gained hands-on experience in research design, implementation, management, analysis, and results dissemination. The different tracks offered students a more in-depth look at core health challenges and targeted solutions.
The University of Global Health Equity, like its parent organisation Partners In Health, was founded to provide the best possible healthcare to the poorest and most marginalised.