THE University of Guyana (UG) has officially launched its Masters of Public Health (MPH) programme after three years of negotiations with its US-based partners.The institutions at reference are the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, a department of the prestigious Vanderbilt University, and the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF).

Before a small gathering of distinguished guests on Monday evening in the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT), Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran delivered the keynote address, in which he underscored that the Government of Guyana would be supporting the University of Guyana by supplying more space and resources to ensure the programme runs smoothly.

Dr. Ramsaran said the programme would attract people from the Caribbean, and would enhance its stability for the coming years.

“I think it will be sustainable beyond the next five years,” since it has already captured the interest of some 75 persons, he opined. Dr. Ramsaran noted that if the programme is properly marketed, the turnout would be larger, and this would ultimately attract resources for its enhancement.

Among the distinguished guests at the programme’s launching were Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Jacob Opadeyi; Chief Medical Officer of Guyana, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud; Programme Director Dr Reeta Gobin, and several international medical coordinators.

Professor Opadeyi stressed on the importance of attracting international students in the coming years, and is anticipating a five-year success for the programme. He said this programme, with its Online features, has the ability to reach students in the remote areas of Guyana, and he expressed much hope that Guyanese in those areas would take advantage of the opportunity being presented them to advance their education.

FOUNDATION
Programme Director Dr. Reeta Gobin underscored that the foundation for the programme was laid in early 2012, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control announced a funding opportunity for establishment of a Master of Public Health Degree in Guyana. She said this initiative was in accordance with the goals of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and was intended to strengthen human resources in public health and epidemiology by preparing graduates for leadership in public health.

The funds were ultimately awarded to Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, she said, and this was “entirely fitting. Not only did Vanderbilt already have a track record of collaborating with Guyanese partners to establish postgraduate training programmes,” said Dr. Gobin, “but through the renowned Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health, it also had considerable experience in building capacity in public health, both within the US and abroad, including Africa and the Caribbean.”

Dr. Gobin said the factor that contributed to the successful development of the programme was the “insistence of the Principal Investigator, Professor Douglas Heimburger,” on equal partnership from the beginning.

The collaboration was further enriched when the Vanderbilt team engaged colleagues from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), who had “extensive experience” in developing postgraduate degrees in public and global health.

Dr. Gobin emphasised that response to calls for expressions of interest from prospective candidates have exceeded all expectations. An initial cohort of approximately 20 students had been anticipated to respond; instead, more than 75 persons have indicated a desire to enroll in the programme.

THE PROGRAMME
The programme consists of 11 courses which were developed by a dyad of instructors, one local and one from either Vanderbilt or UCSF. The regulations and forms for the practicum and culminating experience were developed by candidates from Vanderbilt’s own MPH and Master of International Education programmes as part of their practica.

The programme actually commenced on August 18, 2014, but because of time constraints and the inability of overseas partners to be present, it was not then possible to conduct a formal launch. The launching ceremony was, however, planned to coincide with the beginning of the University’s second semester, when representatives from the Vanderbilt University and the University of California in the United States (US) would be available to attend.

Twenty-one candidates have been selected for this inaugural cohort, and Dr. Gobin noted that the programme would be able to accommodate larger numbers in future, since its appeal clearly extends beyond the health sector.

Dr. Gobin said that professional diversity among persons interested in the programme is reflected in the current cohort, which is comprised of medical doctors, hospital administrators, nurses, medical technologists, university lecturers, quality assurance officers, an orthopedic technician, a surveillance officer, four veterinarians, and an attorney-at-law.

The programme has principally been established to build capacity within the public health sector to combat HIV/AIDS as well as other infectious and chronic diseases.

“We also deliberately created a weekend schedule for the majority of classes, and incorporated online delivery of content to accommodate MoH employees who cannot be relieved of their regular duties, or who are based outside of Georgetown,” Dr. Gobin revealed.

The American universities (Vanderbilt and California) hope to form deeper ties with the Ministry of Health, as the principal beneficiary of what they have to offer.