Precious, a CORE Pre-master intern who joined MLW in October 2022 in the Neglected Tropical Diseases Research Group, is working on a project focusing on Genomic Rabies Surveillance and Assessment of Human Rabies Incidence and rabies post-exposure prophylaxis accessibility in southern Malawi.

He describes MLW as a stimulating and challenging environment that pushes him to improve daily. His appreciation is to his supervisors, who are instrumental in his growth. Interaction with peers across the academic levels also provides him with mentorship, which he finds invaluable.

As part of his training objectives, Precious applied for the Rx One Health Field Institute short training course, which is delivered under the One Health Institute of the University of California, Davis. He has been selected to be part of the 2023 cohort of 30 participants worldwide. Additionally, he has been awarded the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship to facilitate his participation.

The Rx One Health Field Institute program is an intensive two-week experiential training course that focuses on the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health. It covers various topics (zoonotic diseases, biosecurity, hydrology, marine ecology, health equity, wildlife and environmental conservation, environmental health, and research methods & implementation) to equip participants with knowledge and skills to address complex health challenges using a One Health approach. Additionally, the course covers essential skills such as communication, community engagement, and translating research into policy.

“I am excited to learn from field experts and collaborate with other like-minded individuals. This training will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary to positively impact society by promoting health at the human-animal-environmental interface. Ultimately, my goal is to become a researcher in infectious diseases and One Health, and this course will be instrumental in achieving this goal,” alluded Precious.