Fellowships

Information for WHO Fellows

The WHO Fellows programme seeks to enhance partnerships across the Southeast Asia Region (SEARO) through effective training and knowledge-sharing of highly motivated, highly-skilled health personnel and researchers. The program specifically seeks to engage Fellows in:

· Active training and study on public health issues via distance-learning courses and/or study-abroad opportunities;

· Unique opportunities aimed at promoting international exchange of scientific knowledge and transfer of technology;

· Specialist training within one’s home country provided the availability of suitable facilities.

The WHO Fellowship Programme has consistently been accorded the highest importance by WHO Member States throughout the world. It is one of the most effective means whereby Member States can prepare public health personnel for leading positions in public health research and health care delivery.

Thailand and India receive the largest number of WHO Fellows from its member countries in the South-East Asia Region and a few from outside the Region. This Southeast Asia Region for WHO consists of the following countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

Throughout recent decades, Thailand has developed various institutions/facilities that offer professional training for WHO Fellows. These include Mahidol University, Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University, Khon Kaen University, and Prince of Songkla University.

With support from WHO, Fellows experience an enriching practical and academic experience in Thailand and share experience perspective, and skills obtained in their home country. The interchange and experience have made the WHO Fellows programme an effective tool for building capacity within countries and promoting active and sustained collaboration across the Southeast Asia Region.

The application for a WHO Fellowship award constitutes a joint undertaking by WHO, the host country, the Fellow and his/her respective country. Consequently:

1. WHO, in agreement with the fellow and his/her government establishes appropriate plans for study, making necessary arrangements with countries and training institutions, and providing financial assistance.

2. The host country (in cases of study abroad) agrees to provide the course of study prescribed for the Fellow.

3. Services of the Fellow are placed at the disposal of the national health administration on return to his/her home country; and

4. The Fellow’s home country government, as specified on the application form, gives its full assurance that it will make full use of the knowledge and experience gained by the Fellow, and that the status, seniority, salary, pension, and similar rights of the Fellow will not be adversely affected by the Fellow’s absence from duty in his/her home country.

Current WHO Fellows

Ivo Cornelio Lopes Guterres: WHO Fellow from Timor Leste

Ivo was just a few months old when Timor Leste first sought its unilateral declaration of independence in 1975. Growing up in the second biggest city in the country, Baucau, Ivo became interested in environmental health policy at an early age. Baucau is situated in the Eastern part of Timor Leste and is known for its lush scenery and its rich history that dates back to the Portuguese era.

In 1999, Timor Leste gained full independence and youth like Ivo were setting their sights on ways to develop their newly-formed country. Ivo’s interests in public health were strongly linked to environmental health programmes and with good reason. Like many Southeast Asian countries, Timor Leste has faced many environmental health challenges that arise from 'slash and burn' agriculture, seasonal bush burning, and uncontrolled fire wood collection. Combined, the three challenges have contributed to deforestation, erosion, diminishing ground water, and steady loss of soil cover over time. In urban centres like Dili and Baucau, the problems are no less challenging. Pollution, limited waste-management systems, and contaminated groundwater all present major problems for public health specialists like Ivo. Read more

Dr. Prakash Prasad Shah: WHO Fellow from Nepal

Dr. Prakash is no stranger to the challenges that come with resource-limited settings. As a young physician, Prakash came face-to-face with the sobering realities of his native Nepal. Remote villages, limited infrastructure, socio-cultural and linguistic barriers all characterized Prakash’s training as a medical student and young clinician. Prakash’s interest in medicine became centred on maternal and child health and with good reason— roughly 20 per cent of adolescent girls in Nepal are pregnant or are mothers with at least one child. For every 1,000 live births, nearly 48 children die every year before their first birthday. Read more

Information for Fellows

WHO Fellowships information booklet