Read Nnadi's story of being a Chevening Scholar at Swansea University
Name: Nnadi Emmanuel Ebuka
Course: MSc. Public Health and Health Promotion
What did you do prior to studying at Swansea University?
My bachelor’s degree is in Medical Laboratory Science, with five years postgraduate experience in clinical laboratory prior to studying at Swansea University.
Why did you choose to study for a postgraduate qualification at Swansea University?
Swansea University offers a combination of Public Health and Health Promotion, which is a unique combination, needed to meet my career objectives.
What part of the course do you enjoy the most?
An important aspect of the course that interests me is the empowerment approach to health promotion, which emphases the need to empower individuals and communities to take responsibilities for their own health. The fascinating thing about this part of the course is that it sees health as a resource for everyday life, and not the objective of living. This has redefined my perspective of health because I never thought of health in this direction, considering my biomedical background.
Can you tell us more about your dissertation?
My dissertation is on the "Assessment of farmers’ knowledge of venomous snakes, and their perceptions of available medical interventions in Northern Nigeria". The intention is to understand the extent to which the farmers are aware of their problems, and how best they believe it could be solved. In essence, the farmers are engaged in proffering solutions to their problems.
Data from this research would be relevant in designing intervention programmes that could help tackle the incidence of snakebites in this region. For instance, designing public health education programmes, which aims to educate and encourage farmers to take preventive measures against snake attacks. It could also be relevant in providing guidelines for the development of public health policy frameworks to prevent, control and treat snakebite victims in rural Nigerian communities.
The limitations of this project could possibly provide more insight into the development of further researches on snakebite.
My research interest in snakebite inspired my visit to MicroPharm, a pharmaceutical company in Newcastle Emlyn where snake antivenom used in Nigeria is produced. Being in Swansea University made it easier for me to establish this contact, which has the potential of leading to collaborative research between Swansea University and MicroPharm in the future. Therefore, I look forward to exploring this opportunity.
What are your plans for the future?
My career interest is in lectureship, which would give me the opportunity to teach, as well as further my research interest in finding innovative ways of solving the challenge of snakebite accidents in developing countries.
How do you feel about winning this scholarship?
The scholarship is a dream come through, and I am excited because it inspires me to belief that everything is possible.
What’s been your highlight whilst studying at Swansea University?
Swansea University has a very good student support system, which makes it feel like a home away from home.
What specific support or facilities have you found particularly useful as an international student?
Some of the remarkable support I have received includes the assistance of the Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) during my public health placement application. They not only helped me to find a good place for my public health experience, but also assisted me through the application process. The library staff have been wonderful too. Their assistance contributed immensely to the success of my first coursework, especially with respect to the APA referencing system. I will not forget the admissions team for their support prior to my arrival in the UK. Their follow-up calls strengthened my faith in Swansea University even before I had the real experience.
Would you recommend Swansea University to other international students?
Yes, I already recommended Swansea University to some of my colleagues who wish to study in the UK and I am glad some of them have been given offers at Swansea University.
