Nimra Naeem, Munia Hoque and Akanji Peace arrived in the UK last week (September 28), ready to begin their studies on the MSc Public Health degree.

The trio, who have come from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria, are embarking on a journey which will see them gain the skills, expertise and insight to improve healthcare back home.

“In my country,” said Nimra, “air pollution, traffic noise and smoke cause many health issues which are not addressed at national or local level.

“Once I go back, I would want to work on all these concerns that could be hazardous and will try drafting policy that can bring improvement.”

And for Munia, who hails from Bangladesh, the focus is similar.

“I would like to enhance my skills in the public health sector,” she said. “I would like to prevent increasing numbers of diseases and implement health programmes from the UK to improve Bangladesh’s policy.

“Bangladesh is facing difficulties in ensuring a fully facilitated health care system for the urban and rural areas. Hopefully I will be able to acquire knowledge here and implement it in Bangladesh.”

Each year the University offers a limited number of places to Commonwealth Scholars, who, as well as being from developing countries, must show an outstanding academic and personal profile.

They are funded and supported by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC), which awards 900 scholarships and fellowships yearly to citizens of the Commonwealth.

This year’s Bedfordshire trio hope to follow in the footsteps of the last cohort, who will soon head back home after a successful year at Bedfordshire, which included a trip to the House of Commons

Agrima Raina, who was part of the last group, said her time in the UK broadened her global perspective.

“This one-year journey, not only broadened my knowledge on public health issues, but also provided a different perspective to analyse them and seek solutions for the better health of society,” she said. “I intend to utilise my skills in India towards a broader public health perspective.”

Professor Gurch Randhawa, who guides each Scholar, added:

“It is a real privilege to support students who go on to make a transformative and life changing difference in their home country.

“It is testament to the quality of research undertaken by the course team that enables the University to attract funding for the Commonwealth Scholarships for the MSc Public Health course.”