I am applying for a Master’s degree in Public Health (International) because I want to obtain

advanced training in planning, implementing and evaluating public health intervention programs
so that I can work more effectively in the public health sector in my country, Malawi.

When I was a child, I always wanted to be a doctor but as I was growing up, I experienced the
devastation of both communicable and non-communicable diseases all around me due to
ineffective or absent public healthcare policies, lack of access to preventative health services and
education, or quality, compassionate care which makes people to grips with treatable and
avoidable conditions. I was born and grew up; in a poverty-stricken rural and very isolated area
named Nsaru in Lilongwe in Malawi. This made to wish if I could prevent disease occurrence
through preventive medicine. This is the main reason why I opted to study Bachelor of Science
in Environmental Health at University of Malawi. During my studies, I developed passion for the
field of Epidemiology as I realized that Epidemiology forms an essential component of Public
Health as it establishes disease determinants and causation.

I have worked as a project officer for Maternal, New born and Child Health at World Vision
Malawi, an international charity helping “most vulnerable children overcome poverty and
experience fullness of life”, in a rural area. Working at World Vision Malawi instilled in me
skills and experience required for this program as the job involved leading the planning,
organization/facilitation and implementation of all HIV/AIDS, health and nutrition interventions
in a resources limited setting. Undertaking this position, I witnessed conditions like malnutrition
and diseases like malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia claiming lives of especially children and
worsened by the preponderance of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and increasing burden non
communicable diseases among adults in rural populations. This has made me want to pursue a
Master’s in Public Health (International) so as to make a more effective contribution to combat
these diseases and conditions through quantitative research to establish disease causation and
determinants so as to develop key interventions.

As an Associate Lecturer for Public Health and Epidemiology at Lilongwe University of

Agriculture and Natural Resources, I have contributed to health research carried out our
department. This has helped me with skills to analyze different types of key public health and
medical data. In addition, I have gained skills formulating mathematical models and making
predictions for diseases with no known treatment as it is not possible to collect data to compare
possible management strategies. Furthermore, I have gained a better understanding and
knowledge of public health as I am actively involved in teaching students. I have also conducted
different community outreach activities on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This has
helped to connect community leaders with public health decision makers.

Undertaking a Master’s in Public Health (International) at a first ranking university out of 16

Russell Group Universities for overall International Student satisfaction, I am certain that
learning at this institution will meet my expectation as an international student. A Master’s in
Public Health is the perfect course for my needs and interests, since it provides a combination of
clinical infectious and non-infectious disease studies, programmatic and public health
approaches, and research skills. After obtaining this degree, I would be able to conduct high
quality research grounded in the theory and practical skills acquired during the course. I have
specific interest in the branches of epidemiology and global health research. Taking part in a
study visit to Geneva, attending workshops and meetings with various health-related UN and
other international organizations during the program will earn me an everlasting network. I am
specifically interested in working with Dr. Maryam Ba- Break whose areas of expertise include:
non-communicable diseases, epidemiology and health research methods as I wish to do a
dissertation that will establish linkages between non-communicable diseases and HIV/AIDS.

After my master’s degree in public health, I would like to become an independent public health
researcher focusing on novel, cost- effective strategies for the detection and control of the major
non-communicable diseases among HIV/AIDS patients. I plan to collaborate with Malawi
Liverpool Well come Trust, a biomedical research institution which is already undertaking
research on HIV/AIDS and non-communicable diseases co-morbidity in Malawi. In the same
vein, I will apply for research grants to carry out research using the network and collaboration I
will have established during this award.

Within five years after receiving the award, I also hope to have at least 15 high-caliber scientific
articles on original research focusing on the frequency and causes of non-communicable diseases
among HIV/AIDS patients published in reputable medical research journals. This will provide as
a solid foundation for my doctoral studies in the field of public health epidemiology. This will
give me the opportunity to work as a university professor in the field of public health
epidemiology, where I will apply reasoning and knowledge from science to tackle important
public health problems in low- and middle-income countries.

My long-term plans after my post graduate study, I will establish a non-profit organization called
‘Good Hope’ in the rural areas of my country, Malawi that will aim to address the burden of non-
communicable diseases among HIV/AIDS patients through raising awareness on risk factors of
non-communicable diseases, early detection and treatment of patients and provision of palliative
care to patients suffering from non-communicable diseases.

I believe that my academic; work and research skills have prepared me to be an excellent
candidate for the Master’s in Public Health program.