Irene Tampuri Azindow

Institution: Kintampo Health Research Centre, Ghana
Host DSS for field placement: Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies

“The MSc programme has afforded me the opportunity to have an education I could only dream of. As a young researcher, the programme was well suited for me since it equipped me with skills for the design and conduct of research as well as managing and analysing data. The theoretical and practical nature of the programme provided a better understanding of the courses. The conduct of the applied field epidemiology at the Agincourt HDSS provided me with practical insight into the operations of the HDSS. Additionally, the discussions after field visits offered a platform for the exchange of ideas among students and the facilitators about how some activities in the HDSS were run and the similarities and differences across sites that students have worked in. My field placement at the Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies was also a good experience.

I am highly indebted to the INDEPTH Network for the scholarship to pursue the master’s programme as well as my Director, Dr Seth Owusu-Agyei, for his mentoring and recommending me for the scholarship.

My sincere appreciation also goes to my supervisors, Prof Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch and Dr. Portia Mutevedzi and the lecturers and administrative staff of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of the Witwatersrand”.