Divine Katiiti

What inspired your interest in public health?

My inspiration to pursue public health comes from its emphasis on preventing disease rather than treating it. Prevention has the power to protect entire communities before illness occurs, reducing suffering and improving quality of life. Unlike treatment, which primarily benefits individuals, public health interventions can reach large populations through health promotion, education, and policy. This broad and lasting impact inspires me to build a career dedicated to improving population health and saving lives.

What public health issue or area are you most passionate about, and why?

I am most passionate about climate change and its impacts on public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where vulnerable communities face disproportionate risks. Through my work on climate resilience projects in Uganda, I have seen how research, education, and community engagement can strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards. These experiences have inspired me to pursue evidence-based research and sustainable interventions that reduce climate-related health risks and improve population health.

Briefly describe the TIPH Global project you are supporting and your role in it.

Our TIPH Global project assesses teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding climate change, floods, and landslide resilience in Uganda’s Elgon region. The findings will inform the development of a teacher’s guide and student comic book to promote climate resilience education. As the Student Global Ambassador, I support stakeholder engagement, protocol development, ethical approval, research assistant training, data analysis, and the development of these educational resources, strengthening my research and project coordination skills.

What do you hope your project will contribute to your institution, community, or the broader public health field?

I hope this project will generate evidence on teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and practices regarding climate change, floods, and landslide resilience to inform future research and interventions. The findings will guide the development of a teacher’s guide and student comic book to promote sustained climate resilience education. More broadly, the project will demonstrate the potential of school-based educational resources to strengthen community resilience and support climate adaptation in vulnerable populations.

What are your future study or career interests?

My future career interests lie at the intersection of climate change and public health, with a particular focus on preventing child drowning. My master’s research examines child drowning in flood-prone communities, an often-overlooked consequence of climate change. I aspire to conduct research that generates evidence for effective prevention strategies and informs policies and interventions that protect vulnerable children and build climate-resilient communities.