Studying in Hungary: A Life-Changing Academic Journey

Studying in Hungary was a transformative milestone in my career, made possible by the prestigious Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship for my doctoral studies. 

Pursuing my PhD in Health Sciences at the University of Debrecen from 2018 to 2022 provided me with a global perspective on public health and advanced research methodologies. This experience sharpened my ability to conduct high-impact research, leading to international recognition such as the Uli Petry prize Best Poster Award at the 9th European Federation for Colposcopy Conference. 

Hungary offered a rigorous environment that bridged the gap between research and global health policy, empowering me to return to Kenya to engage in impactful research as well as advocate for evidence-based healthcare. 

My research is driven by a passion for cervical cancer prevention, as it remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Kenyan women. I focus on the fact that this disease is preventable through the HPV vaccine and early screening. Among the research I have done, I conducted a comprehensive policy mapping analysis of national cervical cancer prevention and management policies across East African countries to identify regional gaps then proceeded to explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of stakeholders regarding HPV infection and vaccination in Mombasa and Tana-River Counties to understand factors influencing vaccine uptake. These study outputs have been published in the Cancers and Vaccines journals supported of the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship.

Building on this foundation, I have since been awarded the prestigious NPGH Fogarty International Center award for early career researchers, supporting my ongoing commitment to reducing the burden of cervical cancer through evidence-based interventions.

• Dr Wangechi is a Lecturer & Dean | School of Nursing, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology