Personal Statement
Fatima Etemadi
Observing first-hand the consequences of a broken healthcare system is the reason why I am writing this essay. It was the case of Masuma, a seemingly strong, healthy 15-year-old patient that made me fully realize the extent of the healthcare problems in my homeland, Afghanistan.
She was a neglected patient who died as a result of an infection after a complicated delivery in an unsterile environment. Her life could have been saved easily if basic but systematic health care services had been available. It was not the first death I have witnessed, but it challenged my belief that I had all the skills I needed as a medical practitioner to prevent such tragedies. Post-delivery infections cause just 10% of maternal …show more content…
Despite difficulties for Afghan refugees in Iran in terms of obtaining higher education, I was awarded a scholarship in a government medical university. Many lamentable facts about Afghanistan encouraged me to choose midwifery. One of them is that my country is one of the most difficult places for women in many regards, to include health, nutrition, education, and physical violence. I believed that pursuing a degree in midwifery would lead me to a fulfilling career, with the capability to help women at a critical stage of their reproductive life, when they are even more vulnerable.
My primary question was, ‘What kind of specialists at hospitals and clinics do to combat lack of resources, corruption, and incompetence in the Afghan health sector that endangers the lives of many Afghan women and their children?’ According the deficiencies I have observed in the current system, I have selected to study in the Master of Health Management and Public Policy program. By studying in Public Health program, I would like to focus my study on traditional and inefficient health systems. I will be able to assess the nature of community health problems, and suggest the necessary steps to remedy
Fatima Etemadi
Observing first-hand the consequences of a broken healthcare system is the reason why I am writing this essay. It was the case of Masuma, a seemingly strong, healthy 15-year-old patient that made me fully realize the extent of the healthcare problems in my homeland, Afghanistan.
She was a neglected patient who died as a result of an infection after a complicated delivery in an unsterile environment. Her life could have been saved easily if basic but systematic health care services had been available. It was not the first death I have witnessed, but it challenged my belief that I had all the skills I needed as a medical practitioner to prevent such tragedies. Post-delivery infections cause just 10% of maternal …show more content…
Despite difficulties for Afghan refugees in Iran in terms of obtaining higher education, I was awarded a scholarship in a government medical university. Many lamentable facts about Afghanistan encouraged me to choose midwifery. One of them is that my country is one of the most difficult places for women in many regards, to include health, nutrition, education, and physical violence. I believed that pursuing a degree in midwifery would lead me to a fulfilling career, with the capability to help women at a critical stage of their reproductive life, when they are even more vulnerable.
My primary question was, ‘What kind of specialists at hospitals and clinics do to combat lack of resources, corruption, and incompetence in the Afghan health sector that endangers the lives of many Afghan women and their children?’ According the deficiencies I have observed in the current system, I have selected to study in the Master of Health Management and Public Policy program. By studying in Public Health program, I would like to focus my study on traditional and inefficient health systems. I will be able to assess the nature of community health problems, and suggest the necessary steps to remedy