Global Health Summer School 2017

Rudy Kirkhope shares his experience of the Global Health Summer School 2017 in Kigali, Rwanda.

Rudy Kirkhope, International Animal Health student — Rudy Kirkhope

Excitement

I had been so focused on completing my second year courses on the International Animal Health MSc programme that I had neglected to pay much attention to the upcoming summer school. When I finally got around to investigating, I was excited from what I read from prior students, and the general buzz surrounding the event. Alas the maximum number of students had already been accepted, but luckily several weeks out from commencement there was a cancellation, and I seized the opportunity to attend. I was already intending to travel to East Africa in 2017 for a local veterinary outreach project, so this tied in perfectly with my plans.

Delightful meetings with diverse colleagues

Following an impressively long period of travel by many of us to reach our destination, we all settled down on the first morning in the pleasant environs of the Hilltop hotel in Kigali to introduce ourselves and become acquainted. It was enlightening to meet colleagues with such a diversity of origin and breadth of experience. There were representatives from 5 continents, and from many Master's disciplines under the umbrella of Global Health at the University of Edinburgh. It was also delightful to finally meet in person students who I had interacted with online in my classes during the last 2 years.

The summer school classes focused primarily on preparation for our master's dissertation: epidemiological and statistical concepts, library resources, efficient database searching, referencing, submission and publishing tips. The teaching staff were all highly enthusiastic and it was clear they enjoyed the opportunity for direct interaction as much as the students.

Kigale skyline and inside the classroom — Photos by Marshall Dozier

PREDICT Rwanda programme

Midweek the class undertook several field trips. In the morning we visited the Ministry of Agriculture's BSL2+ laboratory in Kigali. This laboratory is responsible for processing samples in the PREDICT Rwanda programme, which aims to identify novel pathogens in wildlife that could pose a threat to human health. The level of specialty work undertaken in such a small facility was impressive.

Inside the Rwanda Ministry for Agriculture BSL2+ Lab — From left: photos by Marshall Dozier and Rudy Kirkhope

Quiet reflection on Rwanda genocide

Ex-presidential residencey, Kigale — Photo by Rudy Kirkhope

Next we toured the residency occupied by the president of Rwanda prior to the genocide. Our guide demonstrated and described in great detail the opulence in which the family lived, and level of detachment from the rest of Rwandan society. This is the same site of the assassination plane crash that killed president Habyarimana in 1994, and is considered directly responsible for triggering the consequent genocide.

Finally, in the afternoon we toured the genocide memorial in Kigali. This was a time for quiet reflection, and an experience that cannot be described in words.

Final days and group presentations

In the final few days of the summer school, participants formed small groups of students from different disciplines to devise, discuss and develop a presentation on a global health concern impacting a developing world environment. Topics included the importance of bat conservation in Uganda, urbanisation in Kampala, and consequences of pollution in Lake Victoria.

Group discussion, Kigale — Photos by Marshall Dozier

Elephants!

On our final day in Kigali, a few of us decided to take a safari into the Akagera wildlife preserve. This was not my first safari, but the first in which I saw hippos and elephants!

Safari, Kigale — Photos by Rudy Kirkhope

Friendships

Global Health Summer School attendees outside the Hilltop hotel, Kigali — Photo by Neil Anderson

Departure day came too early, the only consolation being that many friendships and professional contacts had been made and likely will last a considerable time. To those given the opportunity, I would highly recommend the global health summer school. I am very much hoping I can attend the next gathering in Kampala in 2018.

Thank you

I would like to thank the Deanery of Biomedical Sciences for providing me with some assistance with funding to attend the Global Health summer school.