I am filled with deep gratitude and quiet joy as I share that I have officially graduated with a Master of Public Health (MPH) from The University of Manchester, United Kingdom, with Distinction.
This milestone carries far more meaning than an academic qualification. It represents years of waiting, resilience, and perseverance—often in silence.
When I completed my undergraduate degree in 2019, there was no graduation ceremony. Not because I did not wish to celebrate, but because my name mysteriously disappeared from the graduation list. Ironically, I was the class representative responsible for submitting the names, and mine was at the very top. Before that situation could be resolved, the world was disrupted by COVID-19, and graduation in 2020 became virtual. There was no stage, no hall, and no moment of closure.
That is why this graduation meant everything.
Sitting in person at the historic Whitworth Hall, hearing my name called in the United Kingdom, was deeply emotional. It was closure. It was affirmation. It was the fulfilment of a moment delayed, but not denied.
As I celebrated this achievement, my thoughts were with two people I wish were physically present—my mother, Margaret Atieno, and my father, Fredrick Enock. Both lost their lives to non-communicable diseases—hypertension and carcinoma cancer, respectively. Their passing profoundly shaped my personal journey and professional purpose. This degree is dedicated to them, and to the countless families affected by NCDs globally.
I am deeply grateful to my lecturers, particularly Professor Arpana Verma and Dr. Deepani Siriwardhana, whose mentorship and academic guidance—especially during my dissertation—made this journey both rigorous and transformative. I also extend my sincere appreciation to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, whose support made this opportunity possible. Without their investment, this chapter would not have been written.
To The University of Manchester, thank you for the privilege of learning within such a distinguished academic community. I carry this experience with pride, humility, and responsibility.
This graduation is not an end—it is a reaffirmation of purpose. The work continues, with renewed commitment to prevention, equity, and strengthening public health systems where they matter most.
Aluta Continua.
ODUOR KEVIN 