There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that is lost by not trying, says Dr Shalu

I always had a keen interest in Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) since my under-graduation and addition to which an interest emerged for biostatistics during MPH classes. Working over data was my desire since my masters and my present job is like a wish granted to me. I feel content at this job and there are various factors which have led to the development of my interests and accordingly to the contentment. Prior to this job I have worked for one and a half years at a CSR HCL foundation, where I was looking after the Nutrition Project. Working there gave an experience of working in implementation at the field level, monitoring, documenting, project designing, data management and other professional as well as interpersonal skills. 

My journey from the development of my interests to the achievements so far has been amazing and challenging. Those community awareness campaigns for AIDS day, World population Day etc. during the final year of my graduation sowed in the seed of interest to work in preventive health; until then I was not aware of public health. One fine day while discussing future plans with my professor, she introduced me to this course named MPH. I started researching about the same for opportunities and its scope besides preparing for my MD; which I got through too, but eventually could not make it happen due to some reasons. Then got to know more about public health, started exploring about its scope and admissions simultaneously. IIPH and its course curriculum excited and fulfilled my prerequisites for MPH and therefore I made through the admission.

MPH course gave a lot of insight into the scope of public health, and working in this area is the need of the hour for a developing country like India. The teaching pattern of the awesome inspiring faculties, group work, field exposure, comprehensive introduction to various subjects of the public health domain, opportunity to learn from guest lectures from the experts of the respective fields, and batch-mates from the various background were also a great source of knowledge. Blend of all this at PHFI Delhi - Indian Institute of Public Health had inculcated various skills and qualities that would be indispensable to become a good public health professional which include being a team player, leadership, communication, analytical, flexibility, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills. Not to forget the co-curricular activities that happened from time to time and formed an important aspect of student life.

The window of opportunity to work at NITI Aayog enhanced the professional skills and also gave a detailed overview of how a government body functions. Working over a secondary data analysis as part of my dissertation built my strength over data and here the ever attentive, wise, knowledgeable guidance of my mentor is obligatory to be mentioned, without her support I would not be able to believe in myself. There is just too much that IIPH has offered. Couldn’t have asked for more better.

“You never know what you have until its gone.”

 About the author

Dr Shalu Pachouri is working as an Associate M&E (Family Planning) at UPTSU-IHAT. She is an alumnus of  PHFI Delhi - Indian Institute of Public Health.

Note: The views expressed in this article are solely author’s own and do not reflect/represent those of Shiksha