Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI) is delighted to announce that pharmacist Amy Bobbins has been awarded the AHRI/UCL MSc scholarship for 2021/2022.
The scholarship, which is administered by AHRI and sponsored by UCL, covers full UCL tuition fees for a one-year full-time taught master’s degree, a round-trip economy air fare to and from the UK, as well as living expenses.
Amy says that her daily experiences as a medicines information pharmacist in Gauteng, South Africa, are what inspired her to further her studies.
“I have seen the effects our current health system has on patients’ livelihoods and the greater community. This has motivated me to understand more about how health inequality manifests, and more importantly, how we can proceed as health professionals and researchers in dismantling the drivers of health inequality,” she said.
The scholarship is open to applicants who live permanently in South Africa, and have a high quality academic record. Candidates go through a competitive round of selection at AHRI, before being nominated to go through to the UCL selection.
Amy, who did her initial BPharm at Rhodes University and MPharm (Research) at Nelson Mandela University, will be studying for a Master of Science (MSc) in Global Health and Development at the Institute of Global Health at UCL. The course is focused on an equity-driven and developmental approach and provides an opportunity to better shape the narrative for the next generation of health programmes in developing countries.
“Through the MSc, I hope to solidify my practical understanding of the correlation between global and local health policies and universal access to essential medicines. I aim to develop a specific area of expertise involving health policy and programmes relating to women and girls, such as HIV/Aids and reproductive health programmes,” Amy said. “I strongly believe that the health systems of Africa can be strengthened through the empowerment of its women and girls.”
Amy’s programme begins on 27 September 2021 at UCL and will take a blended approach of face-to-face and small group seminars and activities.
“The assistance from AHRI has been incredible and has made the whole process a lot easier. I look forward to gaining multidisciplinary insights from the fellow students in my programme,” she added.
Photos: Amy Bobbins and https://www.globalthinkersforum.org/